Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Immigration and hope are for us inseparable: in effect, there cannot be immigration without hope and desire for a better life, for leaving behind the 'despair' of a job that doesn't exist and a future that is impossible to build. It is the hope that moves immigrants to leave their land and their family. However, at the same time, the trips are inspired by the hope of return, as it makes the fatigue and difficulties of the immigrant seem easier if he knows that one day he will make it home.” This is what Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, pointed out in his speech on “Immigration and Hope,” which he gave during an encounter organized by the International Association “Political Charity,” that took place in Rome on February 26. Making reference to the second encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, “Spe Salvi,” the Archbishop pointed out that concrete expressions of faith, hope, and love “are the solid basis for all Catholics and men of goodwill to recognize and respond to the social evils in today's world.”
“A person immigrates in order to flee a situation of utter misery, religious or political persecutions, for reasons of war, or because of an unpleasant past life,” said Archbishop Marchetto. “However, people also immigrate in order to follow their dreams and plans, intermingled with yearnings for happiness, freedom, love, wealth, etc. Amidst the flight and following, one can perceive the hope of migratory events both yesterday and today.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the Pontifical Council also made reference to the fact that Christian hope “certainly makes reference in a personal way to each one of us, but it is also a community hope, a hope for the Church and for the entire human family.” “The pastoral care of the Church towards immigrants, in fact, has this task and driving force that gives hope and thus, we feel in complete harmony with what the Pope affirms.”
Later, highlighting the “strong realism of the Church's Magisterium” in the area of immigration, the Archbishop quoted the Apostolic Constitution of Pius XII “Exsul Famiglia,” considered the magna charta of the Church's thought on immigration, “which from the viewpoint of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt, gives meaning to what is behind these immigration patterns, both in ancient times and modern times. All are rooted in hope, through this same event that was also lived by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” The one who sets off on this journey is normally “willing to endure anything,” and is “someone capable of dreaming of a free and happy life for himself. Thus, freedom and happiness are the foundational characteristics of the hope of immigration, the basis for the promises followed by nearly 300 million people, on an international level. In fact, it is human hope that illumines the paths of immigration and makes it possible for people to accept years of fatigue, humiliating jobs, and inhumane living conditions.”
Focusing on humanity's future, Archbishop Marchetto observed that “in the international context today, perhaps it is difficult to hope that the encounter among peoples in the migratory phenomenon may give way to the formation of an authentic human family, at least as long as walls continue to separate countries, divide peoples, and ward off individuals...The only way to increase security is not by building walls, but making open spaces where everyone can enter into dialogue and feel part of the same world...Thus, the rules of control and containment in the immigration field are not the only things needed. There should also be policies of truth and humanity, which take into account the expectations and hopes of immigrants, taking into account the right to immigrate, as it is acknowledged in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.”
The Archbishop then reaffirmed the pertinence of Church's Social Doctrine, recalling that “in the vision of John Paul II, it is part of Catholic morality, which makes it impossible for someone to say – as many times occurs - 'I am Catholic,' but on this point I disagree with the Church, if it is a matter of Church social doctrine. Rather, they should say 'I am not Catholic in this area, in this behavior.'”
Concluding his address, Archbishop Marchetto affirmed that we cannot give into the temptation to turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering of others, especially in the drama of immigration, and man “does not understand that only through relieving suffering can we build an authentic future worthy to be lived by all people...And lastly, the Holy Father's motto – “a world without God is a world without hope” (Spe salvi, 44) – should be our guide in our pastoral work with immigrants.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides27/2/2009)
