Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – Migration is “constantly on the policy agendas of governmental legislative bodies. There remains, however, the suspicion that the phenomena of migration may not be perceived in all their complexity. In fact, politicians and State administrators focus their attention almost exclusively upon strategies and mechanisms for the control and stemming of these movements of people,” affirmed His Eminence Cardinal Raffael Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, in his opening address at the Africa Continental Meeting entitled “Towards a better Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees in Africa at the Dawn of the Third Millennium.” The Meeting began today, June 3, in Nairboi and will conclude on June 5. It was organized by the Pontifical Council in collaboration with its counterpart in the Episcopal Conference of Kenya.
Cardinal Martino continued, saying, “it is not difficult to recognize that when people find themselves having to leave their homes in search of safety, a livelihood, or otherwise ordinary means of survival, there are serious causes underneath such movement which illustrate the great problems with which the international community is confronted. Truly, we cannot afford to merely talk about human migration while ignoring both the causes at the root of it and the socio-cultural consequences that result from it. Such root causes and social implications comprise a long and frightening list demanding urgent action: extreme poverty, demographic imbalances, extreme nationalistic trends, structural unemployment, financial interdependence, hostility and violence against immigrants, refugees, and aliens in general.”
The Church, he said, has always shown a special attention towards immigrants: “The Church is particularly attentive to and feels close to these human problems. And so, by means of this Congress, it is our wish to reflect again on her ancient and, at the same time, new universal message mediated through the pastoral initiatives that demonstrate her maternal care in this field.”
“The Church is called to re-discover and to live in-depth her Catholic dimension, which in its fullness means a proactive witness of the Gospel, to bring the message of universal communion to all nations, and a unity free of geographical, historical, and cultural boundaries. Such a mission does not attempt to erase legitimate differences, but seeks to realize them and to respect the legitimate identity of every person,” he said.
In concluding his address, Cardinal Martino said, “I encourage you, then, to experience these days of study with a profound sense of mission, and to discern in prayer with the enthusiasm of Saint Paul, “the Apostle of the peoples” (Rm 1:5) whose two-thousandth anniversary of birth we are preparing to celebrate this year.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 3/6/2008)
