SA国际传媒

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis sent a message to the 8^th SA国际传媒 Social Forum on Migrants. The Forum is taking place in Mexico City from 2-4 November. 鈥淢igrate, Resist, Build and Transform鈥� is the theme of the Forum. The Pope took the opportunity to encourage the 鈥減ositive transformation鈥� of society so as to give a voice to the voiceless.

Migrate, Resist, Build, Transform

Pope Francis begins his message by referring to the Forum鈥檚 theme, which he compares to the words of the Prophet Jeremiah.  God sends Jeremiah 鈥渢o uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant鈥� (1:10). Today, the Pope continues, 鈥渢here are evils to be eradicated, injustices to be obliterated, privileges to be overthrown, dignities to be reconstructed, and values to be planted鈥�.

Positive transformation of society

The Pope proposes that the 鈥減ositive transformation鈥� of society is based on the rejection of injustice. Opposition to the 鈥渢hrowaway culture鈥�, which the Pope called a 鈥減andemic鈥� disease, is the 鈥渇irst act of justice鈥�. It gives a voice to the voiceless, he continues. Among these voiceless are migrants and refugees, those whom society ignores, exploits, rapes and abuses through 鈥渢he guilty silence of many鈥�.

Solutions

In addition to denouncing injustice, identifying 鈥渃oncrete and viable solutions鈥� is necessary, Pope Francis wrote in the message. That means building 鈥渋nclusive and fair societies, capable of restoring dignity to those living in great uncertainty who cannot dream of a better world鈥�.

鈥淚 would like to take this opportunity,鈥� the Pope continues, 鈥渢o encourage civil organizations and popular movements to collaborate in the mass dissemination鈥� of the Global Compact for Refugees and Migrants and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. He also encourages such organizations and movements to 鈥減romote a more equitable sharing of responsibilities鈥� in providing assistance to those seeking asylum and to refugees. Likewise, Pope Francis says, they need to provide decisive action so as to 鈥渋dentify victims of human trafficking promptly鈥�, as well as 鈥渄oing everything possible to liberate and rehabilitate them鈥�.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Invoking the intercession of 鈥渢he intercession of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe鈥�, Pope Francis asks 鈥渢hat she might care for and sustain with her material support鈥� those activities that favour 鈥渕igrants, refugees, and displaced persons鈥�.

鈥淕od bless your work in the coming days鈥�, the message concludes.

About the SA国际传媒 Social Forum on Migrants

The SA国际传媒 Social Forum on Migrants seeks to address seven topics directly related to migration: human rights, borders, policies, capitalism, gender, climate change and transnational dynamics. In so doing, the Forum wants to build a society more favourable to the protection of migrants and their families, as well as their rights. To this end, the Forum also includes migrants themselves in discussions regarding their needs, expectations, and solutions.