Archbishop Marchetto Reflects on World Refugee Day
(20 June 08 - RV) Today is the United Nations World Day for Refugees.
To mark
the day, Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, who is the Secretary of the Pontifical Council
for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, spoke to us about the increasing hardships refugees
are facing. Kelsea Brennan – Wessels reports June 20th marks
the United Nations World Day for Refugees.
This theme for this year is the
urgent need for protection, especially for refugees who require legal, social and
material security.
The issue of refugees is also a matter Pope Benedict touched
on his recent pastoral visit to Puglia.
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto is the
Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People.
He
spoke about the grim realities facing refugees today including the modern pheonomenon
of human trafficking which unfortunately is on the increase.
He also said
that the latest figures, supplied by the Nations United are extremely worrying showing
that in two years alone the number of people who sought protection from the UNHCR
rose from 9.9 million to 11.4 million.
At the Council’s recent episcopal
conference, the first on the continent of Africa, Archbishop Marchetto said they launched
an appeal, which was an invitation to those especially in Europe to unite in solidarity,
with refugees and for protection. The Archbishop added that those who face persecution
have the right to protected.