Pope invites all to #Share the Journey of migrants and refugees

Source: Vatican Radio, Twitter,

Pope Francis loudly and clearly welcomed migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and expressed his support and gratitude for Caritas Internationalis' new 'Share the Journey' campaign, during his address to pilgrims in St Peter's Square for his General Audience on Wednesday,

Caritas representatives were in Rome for the launch of the two-year campaign, aimed at activism and awareness-raising about the plight of migrants. The campaign encourages people to meet with migrants and listen to their stories, rather than treat them as mere numbers and statistics imbued with negative stereotypes.

Opening his arms wide in a powerfully symbolic gesture, Francis said: “Christ urges us to welcome our brothers and sisters with our arms truly open, ready for a sincere embrace, a loving and enveloping embrace.”

Pointing to the beautiful Bernini colonnade that encircles St Peter's Square, he said, our embrace of migrants should mimic the colonnade “which represents mother Church who embraces everyone by sharing in our common journey.”

The Pope thanked Caritas members and other Church organizations for their constant commitment in favour of migrants saying that they are the sign of an “open, inclusive and welcoming Church.”

The campaign aims to challenge negative myths and perceptions regarding migrants through websites featuring the stories of individuals, the true impact of immigration and explanations of Church teaching on the culture of encounter.

Caritas Internationalis is asking Catholics to take public action in support of migrants, posting pro-immigrant messages on social media and participating in programmes where they can meet migrants and refugees.

In his greetings to all those who work to support and advocate for migrants and refugees the Pope also welcomed a petition which is vying for new legislation on migration "which is more pertinent to the current context."

After the Audience Pope Francis personally greeted a group of some 50 refugees who were in the Square for the occasion.

The official translation of the Pope’s Catechesis follows:

Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on Christian hope, I would now like to reflect on the importance of combatting all that threatens our hope. As the ancient story of Pandora’s box teaches us, hope remains as the treasure enabling mankind to face with trust in God’s providence every evil let loose in this world. In our own day, hope motivates so many of our brothers and sisters forced to leave their homes in search of a better life, but also those who welcome them, “sharing the journey” with them and trusting in a better tomorrow. Hope is especially the virtue of the poor.

As the mystery of Christmas teaches us, God came into this world among the poor, to bring the good news of our salvation. Hope is also the virtue of the young, who deserve not to be robbed of it by an often soulless and materialist society. Hope’s greatest enemy is spiritual emptiness, the “noon-day devil” that tempts us to stop fighting and to yield to discouragement.

Let us ask the Lord for the grace to hope more firmly in his promises, confident that his victory over the world will fill our hearts with joy as we face the future and all that it has in store for us.

Pope Francis tweeted today: Let us share without fear the journey of migrants and refugees. #ShareJourney

Read more about Caritas Share the Journey here: http://journey.caritas.org/