DEFEAT RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND EXAGGERATED NATIONALISM

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, there was a press conference on the Pope's Message for the 89th World Day of the Migrants and Refugees 2003, centered on the theme: "For a Commitment to Defeat all Racism, Xenophobia and Exaggerated Nationalism."

The following participated in the conference: Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Agostino Marchetto, and Fr. Michael A. Blume, S.V.D., respectively president, secretary and under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

Archbishop Hamao recalled that "more than 190 million people currently live far from the state where they were born. It is estimated that there are approximately 175 million international migrants who have left their native country for economic reasons. Almost 16 million refugees must be added" to that figure, and there are also 50 million refugees living in their own countries.

With respect to the past, there have been important changes with regard to migrations: "The migratory movements are characterized ever more by the presence of women; many migrants tend to maintain more contact with their country of origin due to ease of travel and the means of communication." In addition, there are climatic changes which influence migrations: "Some people think that in 25 years millions of people will be forced to migrate because of desertification or the increase in sea levels." Furthermore, there is no lack of "new political problems": after September 11, 2001 "governments and political parties are passing even stricter laws to maintain order and security; more severe controls are exercised that make the same norms for asylum more restrictive." Finally, he added, "in many regions people migrate due to the ageing of the population."

Archbishop Marchetto emphasized that "racism, xenophobia, intolerance and exacerbated nationalism continue to be present in our world." It is difficult to find "privileged countries in which there aren't brutal attacks on immigrants or refugees, expulsions based on belonging to a certain ethnic group, propaganda against foreigners or even the murder of immigrants."

"Intolerance," he continued, "also manifests itself in non-violent but painful and detestable ways such as the social exclusion of foreigners or those who are not nationals, discrimination against those in the work force, in affairs concerning housing and/or health care, and in interaction with civil society."
The secretary of the dicastery indicated that in his Message, "the Holy Father once again proposes the strong and clear affirmation that racism is a sin, a concept deliberately invented to create division in humanity. ... Since all forms of intolerance reside and originate in people's hearts, in order to eradicate them it is necessary therefore to purify and renew the heart."

Fr. Michael Blume, S.V.D., under-secretary of the pontifical council, underscored that "the term 'welcome' - in the sense of a 'spirituality' of welcome - is certainly the key to reading the Holy Father's Message for the 2003 World Day of the Migrant and Refugee."

He said that "migrations are not a marginal phenomenon that calls for an emergency response only, rather they are a structural phenomenon that involves many nations and deeply affects the social, cultural and religious life of the States the migrants leave as well as those they migrate to." He noted the work the Church has done, through individuals, congregations and institutions, especially since the 19th century, to help migrants.

Fr. Blume remarked that, notwithstanding the problems that arise for migrants, "the authentically Christian spirit of welcome will give style and courage in facing these problems." We must do what the Gospel exhorts us, he said: "'Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God'." He added: "Even though there are many problems that migrants must face in the societies where they arrive, we must not forget the difficulties that occur ... in these societies, also among Christian believers. ... Often they are deeply disturbed because of the new multicultural situations created by migrations. ... Some of them are victims of misinformation and some feel nostalgia for the past. Others feel threatened by a loss of work or other feelings of insecurity."

He closed by remarking that people and institutions must undergo "a transformation" and must once again be "rooted in Christ" as it is this which "allows single cultures to be freed from the tendency of thinking only of themselves and of discerning in the people of other cultures the hand of God."

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