VATICAN - “A VAST FIELD FOR NEW EVANGELISATION” THE POPE TELLS PARTICIPANTS AT 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ORGANISED BY PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLES

Thursday, 20 November 2003

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Vatican City (Fides Service) – “The work of promoting the wellbeing of the many men and women who for various reasons do not live in their homelands represents a vast field for the new evangelisation to which the whole Church is called.” Pope John Paul II said this to participants at the 5th World Conference organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People whom he received in audience on 20 November. The theme of the Conference taking place in Rome, 17-22 November) is "Starting Afresh from Christ: towards a renewed pastoral care of migrants and refugees".
“The Church continues to seek to respond to the signs of the times; a challenge which always calls for renewed pastoral commitment. Inspired by Pope Pius XII’s Apostolic Constitution Exsul Familia and in response to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, the Pontifical Council is currently preparing an Instruction that will address the new spiritual and pastoral needs of migrants and refugees, and present the phenomenon of migration as a way of fostering dialogue, peace and the proclamation of the Gospel. Special attention needs to be given today to the ecumenical aspect of migration, with reference to Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, and likewise to the interreligious dimension, with particular regard to the followers of Islam. ”.
Referring to the theme of the congress inspired by the Pope’s apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, the Pope said that any programme of pastoral renewal must be founded on the Gospel and on Tradition, and that respect for the dignity of the human person, of the migrant of the refugee must characterise society and culture and he affirmed: “I once again urge States to adhere to the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families which took effect on 1 July 2003. Similarly, I appeal to States to respect the International Treaties concerning refugees. Such protection of human persons must be guaranteed in every civil society and espoused by all Christians”.
(S.L.) (Fides Service 20/11/2003 – lines 23 ; words 329)