“Today is World Day of the Migrant and the Refugee, on the theme ‘Child migrants, the vulnerable and voiceless’”, said the Pope after praying the Angelus. “These little brothers and sisters of ours, especially if unaccompanied, are exposed to many dangers. I tell you, there are many. It is necessary to adopt every measure possible to guarantee protection and defence to child migrants, as well as their integration”.

He went on to address special greetings to the representatives of the different ethnic communities gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Dear friends, hope that you can live serenely in the localities that welcome you, respecting their laws and traditions and at the same time safeguarding the values of your original cultures. The encounter between various cultures is always an enrichment for all. I thank the Migrantes office of the diocese of Rome and those who work with migrants to receive them and accompany them in facing difficulties, and I encourage them to continue in this work, recalling the example of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of migrants, the centenary of whose death we observe this year. This courageous sister dedicated her life to bringing Christ’s love to those who were far from their homeland and their family. May her witness help us to take care of our foreign brother, in whom Jesus is present, often suffering, rejected and humiliated. How often in the Bible the Lord asks us to welcome migrants and strangers, reminding us that we too are foreign!

I greet you all with affection, dear faithful from different parishes in Italy and from other countries, as well as the associations and various groups, especially the students of the Meléndez Valdés de Villafranca de los Barros Institute in Spain”.

“I wish you all a good Sunday and a good lunch”, he concluded, “and please, do not forget to pray for me. Thank you, and goodbye”.