Cutro, bishops’ appeal: don’t forget those poor drowning deaths
On the second anniversary of the shipwreck that claimed the lives of 94 people, the Calabrian bishops issue an appeal
Two years after the tragic shipwreck off the coast of Cutro, which claimed the lives of 94 people, including 35 children, the Calabrian Episcopal Conference has issued an appeal to keep the memory of this tragedy and all similar ones in the Mediterranean alive.
In a recently published document, the bishops emphasized that, since 2014, approximately 23,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea, and there is a risk that their voices will be forgotten. They urged not to let these deaths fall into oblivion, inviting everyone to remember and make meaningful the lives and deaths of these individuals.
On the second anniversary of the shipwreck, several initiatives were organized in Cutro to honor the victims and raise public awareness. Among these were a prayer vigil on the beach, a flash mob, a photographic exhibition, an Eucharistic celebration in the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix, a visit to the memorial containing the remains of the tragedy, and the artistic installation titled “Per non dimenticare” (To not forget) by sculptor Antonio La Gamba. These events aimed to keep alive the memory of a wound that remains open and bleeding.
These events and testimonies remind us of the urgency to respond with mercy and solidarity to the tragedies that affect our brothers and sisters around the world.
The Church is called to be a mission of welcome and testimony of the Gospel, practicing the works of mercy and promoting a culture of encounter and peace.
In this Jubilee, we are invited to reflect on our commitment to the most vulnerable and to renew our dedication in the mission of bringing the Gospel to all, especially those who suffer.
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Source
- Vatican News (february, 26, 2025)