Vatican City, 1 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning in the Holy See Press Office Cardinal Antonio Maria
Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and Archbishop Joseph
Kalathiparambil, secretary of the same dicastery, presented the Holy
Father's Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, published
today.
Cardinal Veglio explained that not only
does the Day fit naturally into the context of the Year of Mercy, the
point of reference for the Church during the coming months, but also
in view of the current situation in which migration is assuming
immense proportions and leading to tragedies throughout the world, it
must be recognised that this phenomenon in all its forms challenges
us to respond.
It is hoped that this year the Day,
celebrated in all the Church and at both national and diocesan levels
as the Jubilee Day of Migrants and Refugees, will therefore provide a
concrete opportunity for all the Christian community to reflect, pray
and act. “Migration especially affects the local Churches, as they
are closest to migrants and refugees. There we meet these people face
to face and it is at that level that our encounter can truly assume a
dimension nature”.
“We cannot remain indifferent or in
silence when faced with so many tragedies. We cannot fail to express
our heartfelt pain before so many situations of suffering – they
are men and women, often poor, hungry, persecuted, spiritually or
physically wounded, exploited or victims of war – who seek a better
life. … This is the basis of the theme chosen for the Holy Father
for the next Day”, added Cardinal Veglio, who went on to outline
the issues in the Pope's document that challenge both individuals and
the community as a whole.
Firstly, the text refers to the
humanitarian crisis in the context of migration that affects not only
Europe, but the entire world. This fact, as the Holy Father writes,
“necessitates deeper study of the situation to enable us to better
understand the causes of migrations, along with the consequences both
in the destinations and from a global perspective, and therefore to
face the phenomenon in the correct way ensuring the protection of
human dignity”.
Secondly, the Message highlights the
question of identity. “The arrival of immigrants in a new social
context requires a process of mutual adaptation to the new
situation”, the Cardinal observed. “Integration in the new
society also requires inner strength demanding changes in elements of
one's identity to adapt to the new social and cultural context”.
Similarly, the arrival of migrants “seriously challenges the
various societies who receive them, so that the process of insertion
and integration respects values that make us ever more humane and
help us to live a balanced relationship with God, others and creation
, but at the same time allow migrants to contribute to the growth of
the society that receive them. The Holy Father invites us to find a
delicate balance between the two extremes, avoiding the creation of a
cultural ghetto on the one hand, and any trace of extreme nationalism
or xenophobia on the other”.
The Message also highlights the theme
of welcome, emphasising that the Church has a prophetic word in
encouraging welcome, that resonates in the various acts and works
that the Christian communities carry out.
Faced with these problems and
questions, the Pope affirms that “the response of the Gospel is
mercy”. Mercy leads to solidarity with others and to cultivating a
culture of encounter; “it challenges all of us so that everyone is
willing not only to give but also to receive from others, and tends
to build communion and unity”.
“The complexity of migration makes it
difficult to separate the different political legislative,
humanitarian and security aspects”, emphasised the prelate. “The
perspective of the culture of encounter implies looking at the
migrant as a whole, with all of his or her aspects. … In this way
the presence of migrants becomes not a mere juxtaposition of
different cultures in the same territory, but rather an encounter of
peoples, where the proclamation of the Gospel inspires and encourages
routes towards the renewal and transformation of all humanity”.
The third issue considered by the Holy
Father in his Message is the defence of every person’s right to
live with dignity, remaining in his or her homeland. … Every person
has the right to emigrate – it is one of the fundamental rights
ascribed to every human being. But beyond and before this, the right
not to have to emigrate should be reaffirmed – that is, to be in
the condition of being able to remain in one's homeland. First of all
this implies the need to help those countries migrants and refugees
leave behind. … The need for a response is not limited only to the
war against smugglers or the tightening of immigration legislation,
but must also consider that those who enjoy prosperity should ensure
that the poor and needy (both individuals and nations) have the means
with which to respond to their needs and to undertake a path of
development through an equitable distribution of the planet’s
resources”.
Finally, the Pope mentions the
responsibility of the media and the importance of those who
contribute to “unmasking false prejudices regarding migration,
presenting it as truthfully as possible”.
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