Pope Francis Says World Has Moral Duty to Protect Migrants

By Felix N. Codilla III, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, February 23, 2017

Pope Francis once again came to the support of migrants by saying it is the world's moral imperative to safeguard people fleeing from conflict in their homeland. The pontiff made the declaration at an international forum on migration and peace in Rome on Tuesday.

Saying that refugees are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and violence, the pope explained that their dignity can be protected by enacting just laws, especially those against human trafficking. With the increasing frequency of migration, he sees "the urgency for a coordinated and effective response" to the problem.

"Unfortunately, in the majority of cases this movement is forced, caused by conflict, natural disasters, persecution, climate change, violence, extreme poverty and inhumane living conditions," he said. As such, there is a greater need to affirm the dignity of the migrant as a human person.

But apart from the duties of governments to asylum seekers, Pope Francis reminded migrants of their responsibilities to the countries that took them in. He said refugees are "duty bound not to close themselves off from the culture and traditions of the receiving country, respecting above all its laws."

At the conference, Pope Francis listened to the experiences of some refugees including a family that fled Eritrea for Italy. Before reaching Europe, they had to face hardship after hardship in every place they reached. They crossed the Red Sea towards war-torn Yemen, then proceeded to Jordan and Libya before crossing the Mediterranean onto Lampedusa island.

There were also inspiring stories. A woman who migrated to Chile in 1997 was forced to work as a maid despite her background as a professor in her homeland, Peru. Because she didn't have a place to stay, she slept on the train station during days off on weekends.

Three years later, a priest took her in at a newly launched center for integration for migrants as a director, a position she continues to hold until now. Under her directorship, the center has assisted more than 35,000 asylum seekers to Chile, giving them food, healthcare and psychological support.