Romers Walk in Support of Syrian Refugees
Date Published: Jan. 3, 2017
Last semester, nearly 100 UD students, faculty and staff embarked on a 12-mile trek,
starting from the Eugene Constantin Campus, along the Appian Way, to Rome. The "Refugee
Walk to Rome" lasted more than five hours and raised more than $3,000 for the Catholic
Relief Service to support refugees fleeing war-ravaged Syria.
Pope Francis commended the students’ walk-a-thon, praising their efforts and solidarity
with the people of Syria.
“He is most grateful for this expression of sharing in the sufferings of our Syrian
brothers and sisters, and especially for your prayers for a just and lasting peace
in the region,” said Msgr. Paolo Borgia on behalf of Pope Francis.
“Initiatives like this confirm the value of UD’s efforts to educate the whole person
for the benefit of themselves and others,” said Dean of the Rome Campus and Associate
Professor of History Peter Hatlie. “Thank you once again to all the people who supported
this effort.”
Following the walk on Nov. 15, Rome Senior Chaplain Msgr. Thomas Fucinaro celebrated Mass
at the Church of San Giorgio in Velabro, one of Rome’s oldest churches. A young Syrian
couple, who fled from the tormented city of Homs in 2015 and walked with our UD Romers
during the “Refugee Walk to Rome,” were moved to tears by the end of Mass.