Pope Francis has called for a global response to the increasing numbers of people leaving their home countries in search of a better life, ahead of the World Day for Migrants in 2015.
In his address, which the Vatican released yesterday, Francis said it was necessary to respond to the globalisation of migration with the globalisation of charity and co-operation.
Key to this was a more just social and economic world order that did not exclude the poor.
“Greater efforts are needed to guarantee the easing of conditions, often brought about by war or famine, which compel whole peoples to leave their native countries,” he said.
Pope Francis has drawn attention to the plight of North African and Middle Eastern migrants who risk their lives to cross the Medditerranean and reach Europe, and met with a number on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa in July last year. But governmets in affected countries like Italy and Malta have said they cannot cope with the numbers of refugees and need assistance from other countries.
“Solidarity with migrants and refugees must be accompanied by the courage and creativity necessary to develop, on a world-wide level, a more just and equitable financial and economic order, as well as an increasing commitment to peace, the indispensable condition for all authentic progress.”
The Pope said that Christ was waiting to be recognised in those “leaving their homelands with a suitcase of fears and desires”, but warned that they were often greeted with suspicion and hostility, even by Churches.
“In such cases, suspicion and prejudice conflict with the biblical commandment of welcoming with respect and solidarity the stranger in need,” he added.
While he praised the work that international charities did to assist migrants and refugees, he said that a more decisive and constructive approach based on universal cooperation was necessary to combat human trafficking and modern slavery.
The 101st World Day for Migrants will take place on 18 January. Its theme will be "Church without frontiers, Mother to all."
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