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Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – The Continental Meeting for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees in Latin America was held in the capital of Colombia, November 17 to 20, on the theme "Towards a better pastoral economic and forced migration in Latin America and the Caribbean." In the Closing Mass for the event, Archbishop Antonio M. Veglio, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, mentioned several resolutions that had emerged over the course of the meeting: organize groups of immigrants; form border patrol teams that can serve as solid bridges for the benefit of migrants; increase collaboration with NGOs, governmental, and state institutions; combat the idea that illegal trafficking of migrants is a normal form of emigration; make efforts to ensure that all international mechanisms for safeguarding the rights of migrants and their families are adopted; send missionary priests to spiritually assist the diaspora communities. The meeting was organized by the Pontifical Council in collaboration with the Section for Human Mobility of CELAM (the Latin American Bishops' Council).
Summarizing the key themes in his homily, Archbishop Vegliò explained that "the phenomenon of migration in the twenty-first century is a challenge for us all," as "migration, both for economic reasons and by force, is an international phenomenon, whose problems must be tackled effectively by an ethical perspective that is multilateral and multi-disciplinary." In particular, women are particularly prone to fall into the hands of mafia networks or transnational organized crime, said the Archbishop, as migrants are easily deceived by traffickers who promise them a decent future and the easiest ways to make money abroad. Once convinced, migrants are led, usually in an illegal manner, without receiving any kind of information, to countries of which they know nothing – from the language to the law. "In these countries, migrants' rights are not respected,” said Archbishop Vegliò. They are forced to work as domestic workers in conditions of slavery or in the sex industry." The victims of trafficking, forced by the threats of their exploiters and the irregular situation in which they find themselves in a new country, do not dare to denounce the situation in which they find themselves – all this, in addition to the debt that the criminal networks demand from victims and their families.
"This shows that migration is a complex phenomenon that involves networks of organized crime. Countries should not only devote effort to the control of migration flow, but also to the protection of migrants and the fight against organized crime,” pointed out the President of the Pontifical Council, who called for the adoption of mechanisms for those who report being victims of trafficking, so that they may not be penalized for their illegal entry and be adequately protected.
"The steady increase of migration among Latin American countries and other countries of the world is a sign of the times,” said Archbishop Vegliò. “The Church must interpret this sign and take it into consideration in order to promote brotherhood and solidarity. Her aim is, in fact, to build an 'integrated society'.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2010)
