Dear brothers and sisters,

It is with pleasure that I welcome you and congratulate you for the praiseworthy work you do for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and those travelling along the Balkan route. Thank you! Indeed, the rescue of those in danger of sinking in miserable vessels, like the first reception of those who arrive in Europe at the end of long journeys with dangers of all kinds, is a very necessary task. The action pursued by your organization aims to save lives: the lives of people fleeing from places where serious conflicts rage, often triggering humanitarian crises and also involving the violation of fundamental human rights.

Faced with the drama of forced migration, which at times becomes a tragedy, you did not remain indifferent, but asked yourselves: what can I, we, do? You do not look away. At the root of this attitude is the conviction that every human being is unique, and their dignity is inviolable, whatever their nationality, the colour of their skin, or their political or religious opinion.

Unfortunately, many times it does not happen this way, and many lives are exploited, rejected, abused, and reduced to slavery. And faced with the vastness and complexity of the migratory phenomenon, the civil authorities do not always succeed in fully meeting their responsibilities.

So we welcome the action of those who do not just observe things, criticizing from afar, but who get involved, offering some of their time, their ingenuity and their resources to alleviate the suffering of migrants, to save them, welcome them and integrate them. The migrant must be welcomed, accompanied, encouraged and integrated. This generosity, this industriousness is in harmony with the Gospel, which invites us to do good to everyone, and in particular the last, the poorest, the most abandoned, the sick, people in danger.

Dear friends, keep going forward! May Mary, Help of migrants, assist you in your work. I bless you and I accompany you with prayer. And you too, please, pray for me. Thank you.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 11 December 2024