Pope’s message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2013
October 29, 2012 - "Migrations: a pilgrimage of faith and hope" is the theme of the
message of Pope Benedict XVI for the Catholic Church’s 99th World Day of Migrants
and Refugees, which will be celebrated on January 13, 2013. In the document, released
by the Vatican on Monday, the Pope says that that even in the current economic crisis,
the fundamental rights of migrants must be respected always. Faith and hope are often
among the possessions which emigrants carry with them, the Pope says - something
that should not be denied by sealing of borders, but rather should be tackled by addressing
the root causes of the scourge of human trafficking and the exploitation of people,
particularly of women and children. The Pope also focuses on the contribution that
migrants can make to society and the ecclesial life of the host countries. He agrees
that “every state has the right to regulate migration and to enact policies” for the
common good, but it should always be done “safeguarding respect for the dignity of
each human person.” Referring to the Second Vatican Council, he said that the right
to migrate is among the fundamental human rights. In the current social and political
context, however, even before the right to migrate, there is need to reaffirm the
right not to emigrate. The message for the Church’s annual day for migrants and refugees
says that many migrations “are the result of economic instability, the lack of essential
goods, natural disasters, wars and social unrest.” Instead of a pilgrimage filled
with trust, faith and hope, migration then becomes an ordeal undertaken for the sake
of survival, where men and women appear more as victims than as agents responsible
for the decision to migrate. In the face of all these, Pope Benedict says, “there
is an urgent need for structured multilateral interventions for the development of
the countries of departure, effective countermeasures aimed at eliminating human trafficking,
comprehensive programmes regulating legal entry, and a greater openness to considering
individual cases…” Rather than offering merely charitable services, the Pope says,
the Church and her various agencies should also promote real integration in a society
where all are active members and responsible for one another’s welfare. “It is important
to strengthen and develop understanding and cooperation between ecclesial and other
institutions devoted to promoting the integral development of the human person,” the
Pope says.