IMMIGRATION/POPE FRANCIS: “Pope Francis has sharply criticized global leaders who only talk about the plight of migrants and refugees ‘for the sake of stirring up primal fears,’ telling ambassadors accredited to the Vatican in an annual address Jan. 8 it is time to ‘abandon the familiar rhetoric’ and help the record numbers of people fleeing violence today.
The pontiff told the diplomats that a person’s ability to leave their country and then to return is a ‘fundamental human right.’ He also referred to the many stories of migrants referenced in biblical teaching, saying: ‘In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the history of salvation is essentially a history of migration.’
While Francis said the Vatican ‘has no intention of interfering in decisions that fall to states,’ he said it considers its role to ‘appeal to the principles of humanity and fraternity at the basis of every cohesive and harmonious society.’
The pope praised Italy, Greece and Germany for the efforts the three countries have taken to welcome migrants and said the arrival of newcomers should ‘spur Europe to recover its cultural and religious heritage, so that … it can keep alive her own tradition while continuing to be a place of welcome, a herald of peace and of development.’ “
-Joshua J. McElwee, “Francis tells politicians to ‘abandon familiar rhetoric’ about migrants,” National Catholic Reporter, Jan. 8, 2018