The Pope has sent a message to the International Commission on Catholic Migration, which opened its plenary session on May 30. Francis emphasizes a few points to help the commission carry out the three tasks it has set itself: to elect a new leadership, to approve its statutes and to set guidelines for the coming years.
Inese Steinerte – Vatican
The International Commission on Catholic Migration was established in 1951 by Pope Pius XII to establish cooperation between bishops’ conferences around the world to help provide pastoral care for migrants and refugees. In his message, Pope Francis highlights two paths of the commission’s ecclesiastical mission: “ad intra” and “ad extra”. The Commission, whose primary role is to help bishops’ conferences and dioceses respond to the challenges of migration, is also working to promote the development and implementation of pastoral care projects for migrants, as well as the formation of pastoral staff to work with migrants.
At the ad extra level, the International Commission on Catholic Migration is called upon to respond to global challenges and migration emergencies with local Churches. In addition, the Commission is working to ensure that migration issues reach a wider international profile. “In this way,” the Pope’s message states, “respect for human rights is strengthened and human dignity is promoted in accordance with the social teaching of the Church.”
Francis thanks the International Commission on Catholic Migration for the work it has done in its 70 years of existence, as well as for what it is currently doing for the scattered war refugees in Ukraine. The Pope also draws attention to the millions of asylum seekers and refugees in other parts of the world who want to be accepted, protected and loved.
“As the Church, we want to serve everyone and work hard to build a future of peace. You have the opportunity in front of them to give a face to the works of charity of the Church, ”the pope testified.
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