蜜桃交友

By Philippa Hitchen

In his new apostolic exhortation, 鈥樷��, or 鈥楻ejoice and Be Glad鈥�, Pope Francis reflects on the call to holiness in a contemporary context. While looking back at the lives of saints and martyrs of the past, the Pope focuses on the way modern women and men can respond to God鈥檚 call through 鈥渟mall gestures鈥� of love and compassion towards our neighbours in need.

In the third and central section dedicated to the Beatitudes, the Pope speaks about the vital work of defending the dignity of every person, in particular 鈥渢he lives of the poor [鈥�.] the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged鈥�.

Defending the dignity of every person

Each person seeking to follow God鈥檚 call to holiness has a special mission, he says, and it is wrong to claim that defending the lives of migrants is "a secondary issue compared to the 'grave' bioethical questions".

Throughout the past five years, the Pope has spoken out about the rights of migrants, condemning human trafficking, exploitation, racism and xenophobia. But what impact have his words had at policy making level, where migration is one of the most politically charged issues of our day?

Anne Gallagher is the new President of the International Catholic Migration Commission. An Australian lawyer specialising in human rights and gender issues, she is widely recognized as the leading global expert on international law regarding human trafficking.

She says 鈥渨e鈥檙e in the fortunate position of having the Holy Father as the moral voice, giving leadership, giving encouragement and support to the international community, and I believe it鈥檚 making a huge difference鈥�.

Message of hope and compassion

She says the Pope鈥檚 message is one of 鈥渉ope and compassion and it鈥檚 very much needed at this time鈥�. But she notes that 鈥渃ompassion needs to work in all directions, and it needs to be directed at everyone鈥�.

Reflecting on the election of anti-immigration politicians, she says 鈥渋t鈥檚 important for us to understand where the fear is coming from, to understand and appreciate that people have concerns and worries about their society and about their children鈥檚鈥� future鈥�. 

Engaging with peoples' fears

The Catholic Church, Gallagher says, can 鈥渆ngage in a real dialogue with its people and with the broader community in relation to migration鈥�, and to 鈥渉ow those fears can be openly and honestly addressed鈥�.

She notes that all governments are struggling with balancing national security and migration issues. She says that over more than half a century there has been a real development of an international legal Human Rights framework that recognises the integrity of the human person, and the 鈥渋nalienable rights鈥� that governments must provide for. 

Church provides courage, guidance, leadership

She describes that as 鈥渁 massive step forward鈥� but adds that 鈥渨hen there are clashing interests at stake, we need 鈥渢o hold our ground鈥�, looking to the Church for 鈥渃ourage, guidance and leadership鈥�.