Pope Francis cited this gospel as he called on Europe and the United States to “welcome, encourage and integrate” immigrants as they struggle to cope with unprecedented levels of global mass immigration.
A staunch defender of asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants, the pope said many migrants face the “drama of forced migration” and make perilous voyages in search of a better life. He said this could lead to tragedy.
In an interview Wednesday with ResQ, an Italian pro-immigration nonprofit, he said poor migrants are often “exploited, rejected, abused and enslaved” when traveling to new places. Ta.
Pope Francis cited this gospel as he called on Europe and the United States to “welcome, encourage and integrate” immigrants as they struggle to cope with unprecedented levels of global mass immigration. (Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images, left, John Moore/Getty Images, right.)
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He praised organizations like ResQ, which seek to protect desperate migrants and refugees exposed to danger in the Mediterranean. The group has its own 128-foot-long rescue boat and uses it to rescue migrants at sea.
“So instead of just observing things and criticizing them from afar, we are devoting some of our time, ingenuity, and resources to mitigating the suffering of immigrants, helping them, welcoming them, and integrating them. We welcome the actions of those who offer and participate. They,” Pope Francis said.
“Immigrants must be welcomed, accompanied, encouraged and integrated. This generosity, this diligence is in harmony with the Gospel, which is for everyone, especially the last, the poorest, The most abandoned, the sick and the most at risk.”
The crisis has sharply divided opinion in Western countries, with residents and governments often grappling with the cost of housing and feeding migrants due to humanitarian concerns. For example, New York City spent a combined $4.88 billion in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to provide shelter, food, and other services to immigrants.
“Faced with the vastness and complexity of the migration phenomenon, public authorities have not always succeeded in fully fulfilling their responsibilities,” the Pope added.
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Pope Francis speaks on immigration on Wednesday. (AP)
“Indeed, the rescue of people on a tragic ship in danger of sinking…is a very necessary task,” the Pope said. “The work your organization is doing is aimed at saving lives. Saving the lives of people fleeing places where serious conflicts escalate, often leading to humanitarian crises, and involving violations of fundamental human rights. That’s it.”
“Dear friends, keep moving forward! May Mary, Helper of Immigrants, help you in your work. I bless you and accompany you in prayer.”
It is difficult to know the exact number of migrants who have left their countries of origin throughout the crisis due to the lack of comparable data in many parts of the world. The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that a record 6.5 million migrants will move to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in 2023, an increase of 10% compared to 2022. .
The total number of net immigrants under the Biden administration is likely to exceed 8 million, a recent report in the New York Times confirmed, citing data from the Congressional Budget Office. The crisis is straining federal, state, and local finances.
This is not the first time the pope has called on countries to open their borders to immigrants.
Migrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Lukeville, Arizona, Dec. 7, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
At a rally in the Vatican last year, he praised efforts to create so-called “humanitarian corridors” to allow refugees to travel safely to Europe.
“Safe, orderly, regular and sustainable migration is in the interest of all countries,” Pope Francis said.
Sant’Egidio Catholic Charities, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Church led an ecumenical humanitarian relocation initiative in Italy, bringing more than 6,000 people to Europe between 2016 and 2023.
Under this program, aid workers identify asylum candidates in refugee camps and carry out the initial paperwork to allow them to enter Italy on humanitarian grounds. Once they arrive, they will be provided with assistance to settle and apply for asylum.
The Catholic Church teaches that secular governments have a dual obligation to balance when dealing with immigrants and outsiders seeking refugee status within their borders.
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These obligations are outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the definitive document that outlines the Church’s doctrine on theological and social issues.
The first duty is to “welcome foreigners out of charity and respect for humanity,” which means that humans have “a right to immigrate, and governments, especially in economically advantaged countries, should welcome foreigners to the extent possible.” This is due to the fact that this right must be respected. . ”
The second duty is based on a secular government’s duty to care for its people and maintain a healthy society, “securing borders and enforcing the laws for the common good.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
