ANGELUS

Sunday, 9 December 2001

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

After leading theAngelus, the Holy Father expressed the hope that all countries would enforce legislation to protect refugees as they grow in number.

Over the next few days, the representatives of 140 signatory States will meet in Geneva to reaffirm the Convention of 1951 on the "status" of refugees and its Protocol of 1967. I hope that all the nations will put into force legal protection for these persons, who are unfortunately very numerous and are forced to flee from their own countries, as well as for the so-called "internal refugees". May their common solicitude bring to an end the serious violations of human rights that are the origin of this forced movement.