The thrust of Pope Francis’ first message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which is being celebrated today, is that the reality of migration, given its new dimensions in our age of globalisation, needs to be approached and managed in a new, equitable and effective manner.
While the world is facing the greatest migratory flows of all times, the Holy Father says that more than anything, the situation calls for international cooperation and a spirit of profound solidarity and compassion.
For a small nation striving very hard to cope with the phenomenon of migration, as is Malta’s case, seeing the Holy Father stressing the need for international cooperation and solidarity, while also saying, inter alia, that no country can singlehandedly face the difficulties associated with this phenomenon, is surely very encouraging.
It reinforces the message in this direction that the Church in Malta has been spreading for many years now. It has been done primarily through the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, which is made up of bishops delegated by the 26 Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union.
Pope Francis rightly said that working together for a better world requires that countries help one another, in a spirit of willingness and trust, without raising insurmountable barriers.
At the same time, it needs to be stressed that the challenge to solidarity does not begin and end with insisting on establishing a good synergy between nations towards effective responsibility sharing – rather than burden sharing.
Addressing the reality of migration is also the responsibility of each and every individual, because progress in the capacity to live together within the universal human family is closely linked to the growth of a mentality of hospitality.
The message that needs to be hammered is that any person in danger who appears at a frontier has a right to help and protection.
It is true that there are occasions when very real concerns appear. People’s interest in helping migrants and refugees, even when felt as a moral obligation to alleviate the suffering of others, for instance, often clashes with the fear of an excessive growth in their numbers, and factors that might disturb some established balances and patterns of life in the receiving country. Indeed, it may happen that people who were previously viewed with sympathy when they were still far away start to be considered a headache when they become too close.
In his message, the Pope notes that: “not infrequently, the arrival of migrants, displaced persons, asylum-seekers and refugees gives rise to suspicion and hostility. There is a fear that society will become less secure, that identity and culture will be lost, that competition for jobs will become stiffer and even that criminal activity will increase”. But he points out that one element towards building a better world is in the elimination of prejudices and presuppositions in the approach to migration.
The Pope sustains that: “a change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalisation – all typical of a throwaway culture – towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world.
“The communications media are themselves called to embrace this ‘conversion of attitudes’ and to promote this change in the way migrants and refugees are treated”.
For a long time now, Catholic social teaching has been emphasising the Church’s call to incarnate the demands of the Gospel also through reaching out without distinction towards migrants and refugees in their moment of need and solitude.
The Church’s task takes on various forms, including personal contact, assisting migrants and refugees in need, standing up for their rights and the dignity, denouncing injustices, promoting the adoption of good laws and striving for their proper integration.
Reminding members of the Church that the face of each person bears the mark of the face of Christ, Pope Francis states that the human person must always be respected and safeguarded.
cphbuttigieg@gmail.com
The recently launched book Ir-Refuġjati f’Ħajti (Refugees in my life) by Charles Buttigieg is on sale this morning from 10am to noon from Bon Pastur Refugee Centre, Balzan, at the special price of €12. The author will be present to sign copies of the book. As from tomorrow, it will be available from Dar l-Emigrant, Castille Place, Valletta, at €15. All income from the book will go to the Refugee Fund of the Emigrants’ Commission, which for the past 40 years has been working for refugees and is at present giving shelter to around 400 refugees or people in a refugee-like situation in seven centres, primarily in Balzan. To reserve a copy at the price of €15, e-mail your details to cb.refugeebook@gmail.com.
Charles Buttigieg was the first Refugee Commissioner in Malta.