Curia archbishop addresses illegal immigration

June 21, 2010

Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, addressed the worldwide phenomenon of illegal immigration during a June 17 ecumenical prayer service.

“Millions of people in developing countries relive the Gospel story of poor Lazarus, longing to alleviate their hunger with the crumbs which fall from the excessively lavish tables of the masters of the world,” and are willing to risk the “crime of being outlaws” when they enter “the home of the rich man without an invitation.”

Denouncing human trafficking and acknowledging that countries receiving immigrants are legitimately concerned about national security, Archbishop Vegliò called upon

all parties to shoulder their respective responsibilities and identify solutions other than simply heavier sanctions on illegal immigrants or the hermetic closure of borders. These solutions include interventions which go further than verbal declarations for development in the country of origin, so as to promote a serious fight against human traffickers, rational programs for flows of regular entrance, greater willingness to consider individual cases demanding interventions of humanitarian protection and political asylum; lastly, it is necessary to safeguard the right to family reunion, a guarantee for cohesion and stability for individuals and for society.

 

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Further information:

• Migrants: “the Church calls on all parties to shoulder their respective responsibilities and identify solutions other than simply heavier sanctions on illegal immigrants or the hermetic closure of borders” (Fides)