Pope Francis warns of “social emergency” after Rome clashes

Tuesday, 18 November 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Pope Francis warned on Sunday of a “social emergency” after violent protests against a migrant reception centre in Rome highlighted growing social tensions in disadvantaged areas of the Italian capital.

The reception centre in the Tor Sapienza area of the city has been the target of several days of angry protests by residents who have accused migrants in the building of drug trafficking, sexual harassment and petty crime. “In the past few days in Rome, there has been quite serious tension between residents and immigrants,” the pope said in his weekly Angelus address in St Peter’s Square, noting that similar incidents had occurred in poor areas of several European cities. “I would ask all institutions, at every level, to consider as a priority something which now amounts to a social emergency which, if not dealt with appropriately as soon as possible, risks degenerating even more,” he said. The crisis in Tor Sapienza has shone a stark light on the problems facing many deprived areas of the Italian capital, which have grown worse as Italy’s long economic slump has squeezed public spending. Tor Sapienza, in the run-down east of Rome, has long been blighted by problems ranging from open dealing in drugs and prostitution to potholed roads and crumbling public buildings. It has three migrant reception centres and a separate camp housing Roma people, mainly from eastern Europe. Residents accuse the city government of dumping an unwanted problem in a poor area.