Cardinal Maradiaga backs Pope’s call for greater protection of refugees
(Vatican Radio) Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga
has released a statement backing Pope Francis’ call to welcome refugees as our brothers
and sisters.
Cardinal Maradiaga issued his statement on Monday 8 July, the
day in which Pope Francis journeyed to the Island of Lampedusa, the landing point
of tens of thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe in hope of a better future.
Please
find below the full text of the statement issued by Caritas Internationalis:
“The
Pope’s visit to Lampedusa reminded us of the plight of millions of refugees around
the world. Religious leaders and faith based organisations have a key role to play
in making sure those refugees are treated with dignity and compassion. We must welcome
all refugees as our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis visits Lampedusa on
8th July. It is a Mediterranean island which is the landing point for thousands of
migrants into Europe where they most likely face difficulties and discriminations.
There are more than 40 million refugees, internally displaced and stateless
people in the world today.
Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga has joined the
UN refugee agency and representatives of other faith-based organisations to call for
greater protection for refugees
The declaration, known as an Affirmation of
Welcome, is the first to involve UNHCR and a spectrum of faith-based organisations.
The Affirmation of Welcome sets out principles to guide faith leaders in providing
welcoming environments for refugees and displaced people, and those without citizenship,
including through promoting community understanding and tolerance, and combating xenophobia.
The text draws upon principles and values of welcome shared by religions including
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
In November of this year,
the declaration will be launched formally at the King Abdullah International Centre
for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna, in a conference organised
by Religions for Peace bringing together over 400 faith leaders from around the world.
Other organisations that have been involved include the office of the Archbishop
of Canterbury, Jesuit Refugee Service, the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, the University
of Vienna Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology, the World Council of Churches, the World
Evangelical Alliance and World Vision International.
"Welcoming the Stranger:
Affirmations for Faith Leaders" is available in Arabic, English, French, Hebrew, Russian
and Spanish via www.unhcr.org/51b6de419.html.
More information on the "Faith
and Protection" session of the UNHCR Annual Consultations with NGOs is also available
at www.unhcr.org/pages/501a39ce6.html.