VATICAN: Sharing Enables Growth, says Pope Francis in Preparation for World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Pope Francis gives the homily as he celebrates a marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 12, 2019. In attendance were U.S. bishops from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-GUADALUPE Dec. 12, 2019.
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In his fourth video reflection about migrants and refugees in preparation for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) slated for Sunday, September 27, Pope Francis has encouraged the value of sharing as an essential social skill that enables growth for all.
“We must learn to share in order to grow together without leaving anyone out,” the Pontiff said adding that “sharing what we have with the people who truly need it would really help humankind.”
The 106th WDMR will be commemorated under the theme “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee,” to focus on the pastoral care of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) a theme which Pope Francis says “places the experience of Jesus as a child displaced and a refugee together with his parents.”
Since May, the Holy Father has been releasing video clips monthly under different sub-themes including “To know in order to understand, to be close in order to serve, where he reminds the people of God “not to let fear and prejudices lead us to keep distant from others,” and “To listen in order to be reconciled,” So as to enlighten the people about the life of migrants and refugees.
He disclosed that sharing is not just on material things, “it is about sharing our life experience, our joys, love and word of encouragement.”
Pope Francis compared the act of sharing with the life of the first Christian community as given Acts of the Apostles (2,42-47) to emphasize further that “God did not want the resources of our planet to benefit only a few,” but there is need of sharing as the first Christians did and “were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.”
Relating the significance of sharing to the challenges experienced during COVID-19 pandemic, the Pope says, “The pandemic has reminded us how we are all in the same boat. Realizing that we have the same concerns and fears has shown us once more that no one can be saved alone.”
He concluded using Scriptures, “To grow truly, we must grow together, sharing what we have, like the boy who offered Jesus five barley loaves and two fish yet they proved enough for five thousand people.”
