VATICAN: “Collaborate in Order to Build,” Pope Francis on World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In preparation for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) slated for Sunday, September 27, Pope Francis has released his sixth reflection in response to the plight of migrants and refugees appealing for cooperation in building God’s Kingdom.
“Building the kingdom of God is a commitment that Christians share and for this reason it is necessary that we learn to collaborate,” Pope Francis said in a video clip published Thursday, September 24, and encouraged the people saying, “May you be perfectly united in minds and thoughts’ as St. Paul the Apostle recommends when he said, ‘I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement’.”
This years’ WDMR will be commemorated under the theme “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee,” where Pope Francis is asking the people of God to dedicate the day “to the pastoral care of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) by welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating” them.
Earlier this year in the month of May, Pope Francis expounded on the need of collaboration as a responsibility for all Christians saying, “Building the Kingdom of God is a duty common to all Christians, and for this reason it is necessary that we learn to cooperate, without yielding to the temptation to jealousy, discord and division.”
“In the present context it should be reiterated, “This is not time for self-centeredness because the challenge we are facing is shared by all, without distinguishing between persons.”
He further emphasized on preserving our common home to make it conform more and more to God’s original plan. “We must commit ourselves to ensuring international cooperation, global solidarity and local commitment, leaving no one excluded,” the Holy Father’s May Statement reads in part.
Since the month of May, Pope Francis has been releasing monthly reflection video clips about migrants and refugees under different sub-themes in preparation for the celebration.
