Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Stuttgart (Agenzia Fides) - Reactions of refusal against those who are foreigners, immigrants or refugees are increasing in Europe and the world, reaching the point of serious violations of human rights. "The encounter with the foreigner: a way of opening ourselves to God and the world?" is the title of the Scalabrini-Fest of Fruits 2009, which has been held from 2 October to 4 October, and thus formulates a question that incites us to go to the roots of our relation with the "Other", with everyone. About 300 people of 32 different nationalities, young people, adults, families with children, have participated at this international meeting, initiated by the Centre of Spirituality of the Scalabrini Missionaries, its director Fr. Gabriele Bortolamai and the Scalabrini Secular Missionary Women.
The encounter-confrontation engendered by migration works as a magnifying glass, showing the positive and problematic aspects of everyday relations even between citizens of the same country, among friends and families. Professor Jörg Splett, German anthropologist and philosopher of religion, was the main orator of the Forum. He affirmed that in the love of the neighbour the real question has always been its closeness and concreteness that disturbs our natural egocentricity. Prof. Splett emphasized that nobody should be reduced to a means in order to reach one's goal and that everybody's dignity is inviolable. Everyone, actually, is called by his name by Our Creator and it's a unique and unrepeatable "You" of God, who adopted our human nature incarnating in His son Jesus. This dignity is never reduced, does not depend on the colour of one's skin or one's residence permit, it is valid in all stages of life. This personal call by God generates the esteem of diversities: every person provides us with an indispensable view point and is essential for the development of our own identity. The educational scope of these International Meetings is, to create, through the deepening of Christian faith, a “laboratory” of mutual welcome. In these occasions, migrants, refugees and natives can meet as equals and seek together ways of communion through diversity, as Fr. Gabriele Bortolamai pointed to, by realizing their common belonging to the one family of Mankind.
Next appointments to continue on this way are the Scalabrini-Fest of Spring in the International Centre of Solothurn, Switzerland, from 30 April to 2 May 2010, and the monthly meetings for young people in Milan, Rome, Solothurn, Stuttgart, São Paulo (Brazil) and Mexico-City. (L. D.) (Agenzia Fides 7/10/2009)
