World Day of Migrants and Refugees: COMECE joins Pope Francis' call to not exclude anyone

Source: COMECE

COMECE First Vice-President HE Mgr Mariano Crociata concelebrated Mass presided by Pope Francis on the occasion of the 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) today. The theme for this important day of prayer and action was: 'It is not just about migrants'.

In the context of "the globalisation of indifference," the Holy Father explained in his Message how migrants, refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking have become emblems of exclusion.

"When we show concern for them" stated the Pope, "we also show concern for ourselves, for everyone; in taking care of them, we all grow; in listening to them, we also give voice to a part of ourselves that we may keep hidden because it is not well regarded nowadays."

On this occasion COMECE calls the European Union to design and implement person- and family-centred migration and asylum policies, while developing inclusive social policies that leave none behind.

In its regular dialogue with the EU institutions, COMECE reiterates the importance of approaching the migration challenge considering migrants and refugees as people with names, faces and personal experiences and not as numbers.