杏MAP导航

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV highlights how migrants and refugees in a special way can become witnesses of hope and tenacity amidst adversity and calls for a future of peace and respect for human dignity, in his for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, released on Friday, July 25.

This year, rather than being celebrated on September 24 as usual, the World Day will coincide with the Jubilee of Migrants and of Missions, which takes place on October 4 and 5. This annual event encourages the faithful to show support and closeness to the millions of people who are forced to leave their homes and places of origin. , at the end of 2024, around 123.4 million people were forcibly displaced across the world due to persecution, conflict, violence or other issues.

A desire for peace is essential for humanity

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV begins his Message underlining how the world is 鈥渇aced with frightening scenarios and the possibility of global devastation鈥�.

鈥淭he prospect of a renewed arms race and the development of new armaments, including nuclear weapons, the lack of consideration for the harmful effects of the ongoing climate crisis, and the impact of profound economic inequalities make the challenges of the present and the future increasingly demanding鈥�, he explained, adding that these issues have forced millions to leave their homelands.

He points out that the 鈥渨idespread tendency鈥� to look at 鈥渢he interests of limited communities鈥� poses a threat to sharing 鈥渞esponsibility, multilateral cooperation, the pursuit of the common good and global solidarity鈥�.

For 杏MAP导航 Leo, 鈥渋t is important there be a growing desire in people鈥檚 hearts for a future of peace and of respect for the dignity of all鈥�. He stresses that 鈥渟uch a future is essential to God鈥檚 plan for humanity and the rest of creation鈥�, citing passages from the biblical book of Zechariah emphasizing that, as Christians, 鈥渨e believe and hope in its full realization, for the Lord is always faithful to His promises鈥�.

Migrants and refugees, witnesses of hope through their stories

The 杏MAP导航 explains that migrants and refugees thus have an important role to play in showing hope in a better future. For the Catholic Church, 鈥渢he virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man and woman鈥�; and this search is 鈥渃ertainly one of the main motivations鈥� for migrants, refugees and displaced persons, making them 鈥渕essengers鈥� and 鈥減rivileged witnesses of hope鈥�.

鈥淚ndeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible鈥�, he says, comparing the experience of the people of Israel described in the Bible.

鈥淚n a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost", he stresses, 鈥渢heir courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes鈥�.

The importance of welcoming migrants

At the same time, 杏MAP导航 Leo explains that communities that welcome migrants and refugees can also be 鈥渁 living witness to hope鈥� as they show 鈥渢he promise of a present and a future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognized鈥�.

鈥淚n this way, migrants and refugees are recognized as brothers and sisters, part of a family in which they can express their talents and participate fully in community life鈥�, he says.

Catholic migrants and refugees can revitalize the Church

On a spiritual level, 杏MAP导航 Leo highlights that migrants and refugees also remind the Church 鈥渙f her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue鈥�. He encourages the Church and its members to be 鈥淕od鈥檚 people journeying towards the heavenly homeland鈥� and avoid the 鈥渢emptation of 鈥榮edentarization鈥欌�� and becoming 鈥渙f the world鈥�.

In this regard, the 杏MAP导航 believes Catholic migrants and refugees have a special mission in becoming 鈥渕issionaries of hope in the countries that welcome them, forging new paths of faith where the message of Jesus Christ has not yet arrived or initiating interreligious dialogue based on everyday life and the search for common values鈥�.

鈥淭his is a true missio migrantium, a mission carried out by migrants, for which adequate preparation and ongoing support must be ensured through effective inter-ecclesial cooperation鈥�, he says.

鈥淲ith their spiritual enthusiasm and vitality, they can help revitalize ecclesial communities that have become rigid and weighed down, where spiritual desertification is advancing at an alarming rate鈥�, he says. 鈥淭heir presence, then, should be recognized and appreciated as a true divine blessing, an opportunity to open oneself to the grace of God, who gives new energy and hope to His Church鈥�.