The theme of Pope Francis’s 2018 Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees is ‘“Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees”
In his message for this day celebrated on 14 January, Pope Francis makes clear that one of the principal concerns of his pontificate is the situation of migrants and refugees. He reiterates the call to Catholics and all people of good will expressed in his New Year’s Day message ‘that “our shared response may be articulated by four verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate”.’ He reminds us of the Gospel imperative:‘Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age (Matthew 25:35-43).’
- Read and reflect on the Pope’s Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees here
Watch this video in which the Pope appeals for countries to move away from fear of the other to acceptance of the other (1:09)
Image:
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
18 June 2016
Lesbos, Greece
Photo # 682175
Used under licence
