VATICAN SYNOD: Pope Francis Calls for a Co-responsibility Approach in Addressing Problems of Migrants and Refugees
Fr. Andrew Kaufa smm
Pope Francis has called on all people of God to be neighbors to all the wayfarers of our time by taking care of them and combating the criminal networks that exploit the hopes and dreams of the migrants and conversing about government migration policies.
This appeal he made during special prayers of the over 350 synod participants for migrants and refugees across the world, which took place in front of the sculpture of Angel Unawares at Saint Peter’s Squares, the evening of Thursday, October 19, 2023.
During a reflection that was based on the parables of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke (10: 17-31), which is also at the heart of the 2020 encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis invited the synod members “to think about the migrants who we see represented in this sculpture, men and women of all ages and backgrounds.”
“The road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho was not a safe route, just as today many migration routes that traverse deserts, forests, rivers, and seas are not safe. How many of our brothers and sisters find themselves today in the same condition as the traveler in the parable? How many of our brothers and sisters are robbed, stripped, and beaten along the way? They leave their homes deceived by unscrupulous traffickers. They are sold like commodities. They are kidnapped, imprisoned, exploited, and enslaved,” recounted Pope Francis.
He went on to highlight the Good Samaritan who out of concern, took upon himself the responsibility to provide for victim’s transportation and lodging regardless of who he was or where he came from.
“Allow me to point out the urgent need for something else, which is not addressed in the
parable. All of us must strive to make the road safer so that today’s travellers do not fall victim to bandits. We need to multiply our efforts to combat the criminal networks that exploit the hopes and dreams of migrants. It is likewise necessary to indicate safer routes. This means that efforts must be made to expand regular migration channels.”
According to Pope Francis, nobody should feel indifferent to the situation of migrants and refugees because it’s either one is a perpetrator or a victim.
“Let us ask the Lord for the grace to draw close to all migrants and refugees who knock at our door because today “anyone who is neither a robber nor a passer-by is either injured himself or bearing an injured person on his shoulders,” he said referencing Fratelli Tutti, article number 70.
Earlier during the press briefing on the progress of the Synod on Synodality assembly, the topic of migrants and refugees in Africa was mentioned as one recurrent topic in connection to the global wars and socio-economic challenges affecting the people’s lives today.
On his part as a panel member at the press briefing, Most Rev. Dabula Anthony Mpako the Archbishop of Pretoria, South Africa, said, “We are also dealing with the problem of the influx of refugees. We are hosting over 2.9 m migrants from all over the work. Most of the migrants come due to poverty. Some are refugees but most of them it is economic refugees. Pretoria seems to be the most popular city where people seek jobs and greener pastures. They are looking for basic needs: food, clothing, medicines etc. It is not easy for them to get jobs without proper documentation.
The Synod Assembly which started on October 4, will end on October 29, 2023. During the four weeks, participants have been praying and engaging in spiritual conversation with regard to the Church becoming synodal in terms of communion, mission, and participation.
In the process, participants also brought into prayer the realities affecting the world such as the ongoing wars that have destabilized peace in many countries including the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Ukraine-Russia wars.
