Church' World Day of Migrants and Refugees - Jan. 14

(Jan. 13, 2007) The Catholic Church on Sunday marks the 93^rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees with programmes, reflections and activities focussing on the migrant family. Pope Benedict XVI had released a message for this year’s observance calling for measures that will help facilitate the integration of migrant families. The release of the message in advance of the actual celebration is to give time to dioceses, parishes and communities to organize programmes and activities on the theme. The Pope begins his message by recalling the drama of the Family of Nazareth that, like millions of others today, fled to a foreign country, Egypt, to escape persecution at home. The Holy Father underlines further "the commitment of the Church not only in favour of the individual migrant, but also of his family, which is a place and resource of the culture of life and a factor for the integration of values." The migrant's family meets many difficulties, such as the distance of its members from one another and unsuccessful reunification that often results in breaking of original ties. Some migrants forget the past and their duties, as they are subjected to the hard trial of distance and solitude. If the immigrant family is not ensured a real possibility of inclusion and participation, the Pope warns, it is difficult to expect its harmonious development." He also draws attention to harsh conditions of migrants especially in refugee camps and of students studying abroad. Currently, there are nearly 200 million migrants for economic reasons and around 9 million students studying abroad. Pope Benedict therefore calls on governments to ratify the international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families.