World Day of Migrants and Refugees Archives

Vatican reality check: It may not be partisan, but it’s definitely political
- Analysis
- August 26, 2017
While he was in Russia this week, the Vatican’s top diplomat said the Holy See is not identified with any “particular political position” — ironically, one day after Pope Francis took a position on citizenship by birth with clear political relevance in Italy right now. In truth, when Vatican officials say they’re not “political,” what they really mean is that they’re not “partisan.”
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Pope calls for an end to ‘collective and arbitrary’ expulsion of migrants
- Vatican
- August 21, 2017
In a message for the Vatican-sponsored “World Day of Migrants and Refugees,” set for Jan. 14, Pope Francis called the “lamentable situation” of migrants and refugees fleeing war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty a “sign of the times,” and called for nations to rise up to the challenge of “Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.”
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Myanmar cardinal says there is no “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya minority
- Global Church
- June 23, 2017
A UN report in February described the situation of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State a possible “genocide” and described a set of “crimes against humanity” in Myanmar, noting the Rohingyas are in effect stateless, and facing a “campaign of terror.” Cardinal Charles Bo now says there is no “ethnic cleansing” taking place however.
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Pope points to Mother Cabrini as prime model in caring for migrants

Pope Francis spoke of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in a speech on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. He said the witness of this “courageous sister” can help the world learn “to take care of our foreign brother, in whom Jesus is present, often suffering, rejected and humiliated.”