蜜桃交友

By Philippa Hitchen

The rights of refugees and migrants will be under the spotlight throughout 2018 as the United Nations works towards the adoption of two global agreements or 鈥榗ompacts鈥�, responding to the largest number of displaced people since the Second World War.

In this year鈥檚 for the January 1^st World Day of Peace, Pope Francis also focused on migrants and refugees, highlighting the reasons why so many people are on the move and what our response should be.

As governments and communities seek to cope with large numbers of people fleeing from conflict or poverty, the Pope says, it鈥檚 vital to find creative, bold and compassionate solutions, rather than fomenting fear of migrants, thus 鈥渟owing violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia鈥�

Fr Michael Czerny is undersecretary of the at the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development. He talks about the importance of the 2018 Peace Day message 鈥� the first one to focus on this key area of international concern鈥�

Fr Michael says the message highlights how migrants and refugees are 鈥渘ot just people in difficulty, who need help, but are 鈥渁rtisans of peace, contributors to peace, builders of peace鈥�.

Dialogue with governments

Though the message was published in November, he says 鈥渢he dialogue with governments is just beginning鈥� as politicians receive a personal copy of the text at the start of the new year and as the Pope comments on it during his high profile meeting with members of the diplomatic corps.

Fr Michael notes how much the Holy See鈥檚 concerns are appreciated at international level by all those preparing for both UN compacts on migrants and refugees.

Looking for leadership 

The Vatican missions in New York and Geneva will be actively involved in negotiations, he notes, adding: 鈥淲hat is very satisfying and hopeful and challenging is that many fellow states, nation states, look to the Holy See for leadership in this area鈥�.

Fr Michael鈥檚 office has worked with major Catholic refugee organisations and with bishops鈥� conferences to develop 20 action points, which are both 鈥渁 pastoral plan鈥� and 鈥渁 negotiating platform鈥�. He says they have been submitted to UN for both the migrants and refugee processes and have been 鈥渨armly welcomed鈥� as 鈥渜uite outstanding contributions to the processes鈥�.

Highlighting positive contributions

Commenting on the strong opposition to migrants and refugees by some governments, Fr Michael says 鈥渙ur role is not to get into arguments鈥� but to quietly and repeatedly bring forward the positive experiences鈥�, making governments 鈥渟ee that with less investment and more goodwill they鈥檒l get much further than by imagining they can pay their way or bully their way out of this鈥�.

He cites 鈥渉eartwarming stories鈥� of abandoned villages where migrants have helped to rebuild a thriving agriculture, giving rise to commerce, a return of tourism,  and regeneration of family life with schools reopened and parishes booming. 鈥淣ew life is possible鈥�, he concludes, 鈥渋f you鈥檙e willing to share what there is and be open to new possibilities鈥�.