Pope: migration, justice and solidarity for people, who are not numbers

In a message, Francis writes that in order to meet and respond to the current migration phenomenon, the Pope writes, "the help of the whole international community is needed". "Particular concern must be shown for migrant children and their families, those who are victims of human trafficking rings".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The shared global management of international migration” must be grounded in “the values of justice, solidarity and compassion” because " the issue of migration is not simply one of numbers, but of persons, " writes Pope Francis in a message to the "Second Holy See - Mexico Conference on International Migration".  The initiative is promoted by the Vatican Secretariat of State and the Mexican Embassy to the Holy See, with the collaboration of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Migrant Section of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.

To address and respond to the phenomenon of current migration, writes the Pope, "the help of the whole international community is needed". Francis then recalls that at international level there are " two processes aimed at the adoption of two global compacts, one on refugees and the other on safe, orderly and regular migration". "This demands a change in mindset: we must move from considering others as threats to our comfort to valuing them as persons whose life experience and values can contribute greatly to the enrichment of our society".

"Finally, I would like to point out that the issue of migration is not simply one of numbers, but ofpersons, each with his or her own history, culture, feelings and aspirations… These persons, our brothers and sisters, need “ongoing protection”, independently of whatever migrant status they may have. Their fundamental rights and their dignity need to be protected and defended. Particular concern must be shown for migrant children and their families, those who are victims of human trafficking rings, and those displaced due to conflicts, natural disasters and persecution. All of them hope that we will have the courage to tear down the wall of “comfortable and silent complicity” that worsens their helplessness; they are waiting for us to show them concern, compassion and devotion".

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