Pope: "Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity"
Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - The reality of migration , which in our time has reached unprecedented proportions, "needs to be approached and managed in a new, equitable and effective manner" because "migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of ' humanity "and" can not be reduced to mere economic growth, development , achieved , often without looking at the weakest and most defenseless . " Faced with the phenomenon of "children, women and men who leave or are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more", calls for "international cooperation and a spirit of profound solidarity and compassion", close collaboration between the migrants' countries of origin and their countries of destination" and " , the elimination of prejudices and presuppositions in the approach to migration".
Looking at migration as "a
sign of the times", indicating "the aspiration of humanity to live in
unity with respect for differences, the welcome and hospitality that enable the
equitable sharing of the point
to the aspiration of humanity to enjoy a unity marked by respect for
differences, by attitudes of acceptance and hospitality which enable an
equitable sharing of the world's goods, and by the protection and the
advancement of the dignity and centrality of each human being". This is the meaning of the theme chosen by
Pope Francis - " Migrants and refugees : towards a better world " -
for the next world Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on
Sunday, January 19, 2014 .
In
his message for the event, the Pope explains the choice by saying that " Our societies are experiencing, in
an unprecedented way, processes of mutual interdependence and interaction on
the global level. While not lacking problematic or negative elements, these
processes are aimed at improving the living conditions of the human family, not
only economically, but politically and culturally as well. Each individual is a
part of humanity and, with the entire family of peoples, shares the hope of a
better future". "What is involved in the creation of
"a better world"? The expression does not allude naively to abstract notions or
unattainable ideals; rather, it aims at an authentic and integral development,
at efforts to provide dignified living conditions for everyone, at finding just
responses to the needs of individuals and families, and at ensuring that God's
gift of creation is respected, safeguarded and cultivated".
" From the Christian standpoint, the reality of
migration, like other human realities, points to the tension between the beauty
of creation, marked by Grace and the Redemption, and the mystery of sin. Solidarity,
acceptance, and signs of fraternity and understanding exist side by side with
rejection, discrimination, trafficking and exploitation, suffering and death. Particularly
disturbing are those situations where migration is not only involuntary, but
actually set in motion by various forms of human trafficking and enslavement. Nowadays,
"slave labour" is common coin! Yet despite the problems, risks and difficulties
to be faced, great numbers of migrants and refugees continue to be inspired by
confidence and hope; in their hearts they long for a better future, not only
for themselves but for their families and those closest to them".
"While encouraging the development of
a better world, we cannot remain silent about the scandal of poverty in its
various forms. Violence, exploitation, discrimination, marginalization,
restrictive approaches to fundamental freedoms, whether of individuals or of
groups: these are some of the chief elements of poverty which need to be
overcome. Often these are precisely the elements which mark migratory
movements, thus linking migration to poverty. Fleeing from situations of
extreme poverty or persecution in the hope of a better future, or simply to
save their own lives, millions of persons choose to migrate. Despite their
hopes and expectations, they often encounter mistrust, rejection and exclusion,
to say nothing of tragedies and disasters which offend their human dignity.
The reality of migration, given its new dimensions in our age of globalization, needs to be approached and managed in a new, equitable and effective manner; more than anything, this calls for international cooperation and a spirit of profound solidarity and compassion. Cooperation at different levels is critical, including the broad adoption of policies and rules aimed at protecting and promoting the human person. Pope Benedict XVI sketched the parameters of such policies, stating that they "should set out from close collaboration between the migrants' countries of origin and their countries of destination; they should be accompanied by adequate international norms able to coordinate different legislative systems with a view to safeguarding the needs and rights of individual migrants and their families, and at the same time, those of the host countries" (Caritas in Veritate, 62). Working together for a better world requires that countries help one another, in a spirit of willingness and trust, without raising insurmountable barriers. A good synergy can be a source of encouragement to government leaders as they confront socioeconomic imbalances and an unregulated globalization, which are among some of the causes of migration movements in which individuals are more victims than protagonists. No country can singlehandedly face the difficulties associated with this phenomenon, which is now so widespread that it affects every continent in the twofold movement of immigration and emigration
"Finally, in considering the situation of migrants and refugees, I would point to yet another element in building a better world, namely, the elimination of prejudices and presuppositions in the approach to migration. Not infrequently, the arrival of migrants, displaced persons, asylum-seekers and refugees gives rise to suspicion and hostility. There is a fear that society will become less secure, that identity and culture will be lost, that competition for jobs will become stiffer and even that criminal activity will increase. The communications media have a role of great responsibility in this regard: it is up to them, in fact, to break down stereotypes and to offer correct information in reporting the errors of a few as well as the honesty, rectitude and goodness of the majority. A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization - all typical of a throwaway culture - towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world. The communications media are themselves called to embrace this "conversion of attitudes" and to promote this change in the way migrants and refugees are treated.
"The Church, responding to Christ's
command to "go and make disciples of all nations", is called to be the People
of God which embraces all peoples and brings to them the proclamation of the
Gospel, for the face of each person bears the mark of the face of Christ! Here
we find the deepest foundation of the dignity of the human person, which must
always be respected and safeguarded. It is less the criteria of efficiency,
productivity, social class, or ethnic or religious belonging which ground that
personal dignity, so much as the fact of being created in God's own image and
likeness (cf. Gen 1:26-27) and, even more so, being children of God. Every
human being is a child of God! He or she bears the image of Christ! We
ourselves need to see, and then to enable others to see, that migrants and
refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and
sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved. They are an occasion that
Providence gives us to help build a more just society, a more perfect
democracy, a more united country, a more fraternal world and a more open and
evangelical Christian community. Migration can offer possibilities for a new
evangelization, open vistas for the growth of a new humanity foreshadowed in
the paschal mystery: a humanity for which every foreign country is a homeland
and every homeland is a foreign country".
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