Vatican
City, 24 May 2013
(VIS) - “The trafficking of persons is an ignoble activity, a
disgrace to our society that calls itself 'civilized'! Exploiters and
clients at all levels should make a serious examination of
conscience, within themselves and before God!” These were the
Pope's words to the participants in the plenary assembly of the
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
People, gathered in Rome to discuss the issue of “The Church's
Pastoral Care in the Context of Forced Migration”.
The
assembly coincides with the publication of the document: “Welcoming
Christ in Refugees and Persons Displaced by Force”, which calls
attention to the millions of refugees, displaced, and stateless
persons. It also addresses the scourge of human trafficking, which
more and more frequently affects children who suffer the worst forms
of abuse, including being forced into armed conflicts.
“Today,”
the pontiff exclaimed, “the Church renews her strong call that the
dignity and centrality of each person be always protected, in respect
of fundamental rights … rights that she asks be concretely extended
to the millions of men and women in every continent whose rights are
not recognized. In a world where there is so much talk of rights it
seems that the only one to have rights is money. … We are living in
a world ruled by money. We live in a world, in a culture ruled by the
fetishism of money.” In this context, the Pope noted that the
dicastery responsible for the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant
people is very worried by “situations where the family of nations
is called to intervene in a spirit of fraternal solidarity with
programmes of protection, often established against the backdrop of
tragic events that almost daily are affecting the lives of many
people. I express my appreciation and my gratitude and encourage you
to continue along the path of service to our poorest and most
marginalized brothers and sisters.”
The
attention of the Church, who is “mother”, is expressed “with
special tenderness and closeness for those forced to flee their
country and live in-between rootlessness and integration. This
tension destroys a person. Christian compassion—this 'suffering
with' [con-passione]—is expressed above all in the commitment to
know about the events that force one to leave their country and,
where necessary, in giving voice to those who are unable to make
their cry of sorrow and oppression heard. In this,” he said to the
assembly's participants, “you carry out an important task, as well
as in making the Christian communities aware of their many brothers
and sisters who are marked by wounds that scar their existence:
violence, abuse of power, distance from family, traumatic events,
flight from home, and uncertainty about their future in refugee
camps. These are all dehumanizing elements and they must compel every
Christian and the entire community to a concrete attention.”
However,
the Holy Father also invited them to also see in the eyes of refugees
and forcibly displaced persons ”the light of hope. It is a hope
that is expressed in expectation for the future, the desire for
friendly relationships, the desire to participate in the society that
is hosting them, even through language learning, access to
employment, and education for the youngest. I admire the courage of
those who hope to gradually resume a normal life, awaiting joy and
love to return and lighten their existence. We all can and must
nurture that hope!”
Finally,
the Pope launched an appeal to governments, legislators, and the
entire international community to face the reality of forcibly
displaced persons “with effective initiatives and new approaches to
safeguard their dignity, to improve the quality of their lives, and
to meet the challenges that emerge from modern forms of persecution,
oppression, and slavery. It is, I emphasize, human persons who appeal
to the solidarity and support, who need urgent measures, but also and
above all who need understanding and goodness. Their condition cannot
leave us indifferent.”
“As
Church,” he concluded, “we remember that when we heal the wounds
of refugees, displaced persons, and victims of trafficking, we are
practising the commandment of love that Jesus has left us; when we
identify with the stranger, with those who are suffering, with all
the innocent victims of violence and exploitation. … Here I would
also like to recall the care that every pastor and Christian
community must have for the journey of faith of Christian refugees
and those forcibly uprooted from their lives, as well as for that of
Christian emigrants. They require special pastoral care that respects
their traditions and accompanies them in a harmonious integration
into the ecclesial reality in which they find themselves. Let us not
forget the flesh of Christ, who is in the flesh of the refugees.
Their flesh is that of Christ.”