In Pope Francis’ message he says:
Throughout the first years of my pontificate, I have repeatedly expressed my particular concern for the lamentable situation of many migrants and refugees fleeing from war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty. This situation is undoubtedly a “sign of the times” which I have tried to interpret, with the help of the Holy Spirit, ever since my visit to Lampedusa on 8 July 2013.
He states: "our shared response may be articulated by four verbs:
- to welcome,
- to protect,
- to promote
- to integrate”
- welcoming means, above all, offering broader options for migrants and refugees to enter destination countries safely and legally.
- protecting – may be understood as a series of steps intended to defend the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees, independent of their legal status.
- Promoting essentially means a determined effort to ensure that all migrants and refugees – as well as the communities which welcome them – are empowered to achieve their potential as human beings, in all the dimensions which constitute the humanity intended by the Creator.
- integrating – concerns the opportunities for intercultural enrichment brought about by the presence of migrants and refugees.
The Pope concludes with:
Dear brothers and sisters, in light of these processes currently underway, the coming months offer a unique opportunity to advocate and support the concrete actions which I have described with four verbs. I invite you, therefore, to use every occasion to share this message with all political and social actors involved (or who seek to be involved) in the process which will lead to the approval of the two Global Compacts.
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