Instituted in 1914 by Pope Pius X, this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated September 29, the Feast of archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
From Pope Francis, this message: “I invoke God’s abundant blessings upon all the world’s migrants and refugees and upon all those who accompany them on their journey.”
And these valuable highlights:
“Violent conflicts and all-out wars continue to tear humanity apart; injustices and discrimination, economic and social imbalances on a local or global scale prove difficult to overcome. It is the poorest of the poor and the most disadvantaged who pay the price.
“The most economically advanced societies are witnessing extreme individualism which, combined with a utilitarian mentality and reinforced by the media, is producing a “globalization of indifference” (where) migrants, refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking have become emblems of exclusion, are often looked down upon and considered the source of all society’s ills.
“The presence of migrants and refugees – and of vulnerable people in general – is an invitation to recover some of those essential dimensions of our Christian existence and our humanity that risk being overlooked in a prosperous society.
“That is why it is not just about migrants. When we show concern for them, we also show concern for ourselves, for everyone.
“It is also about our fears. (When) migrants and refugees knock on our door in search of protection, security and a better future, doubts and fears condition our way of thinking and acting making us intolerant, closed and perhaps even racist. Fear deprives us of the desire and the ability to encounter the other, the person different from myself; it deprives me of an opportunity to encounter the Lord.
“It is about charity shown to those unable to reciprocate and perhaps even to thank us in return.
“It is about our humanity. Compassion to ‘be a neighbor’ to all those whom we see in difficulty, recognizing the suffering of the other and taking immediate action to soothe, heal and save. Opening ourselves to others does not lead to impoverishment, but rather enrichment.
“It is a question of seeing that no one is excluded. Today’s world is increasingly becoming more elitist and cruel towards the excluded, a development (where the) rich (get) richer and the poor poorer (rather than) a real development that seeks to include all the world’s men and women, to promote their integral growth, and to show concern for coming generations.
“It is about putting the last in first place. Jesus Christ asks us not to yield to the logic of the world, me first, and then the others (but to) the logic of the Gospel: the last come first and we must put ourselves at their service.
“It about the whole person, about all people. In Jesus’ words, to see that all receive the gift of life in its fullness, according to the will of the Father. Consequently, “development cannot be economic growth alone but must foster the development of each man and of the whole man.
“It is about building the city of God and man. Many innocent people fall victim to the great deception of limitless technological and consumerist development and journey towards a paradise that inevitably betrays their expectations.
“Our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate which, when practiced will help build the city of God and man, promote the integral human development of all people, (and) help the world community to come closer to the goals of sustainable development.”