Global – Fratelli Tutti and the Plight of the Displaced
Pope Francis’s new encyclical, Fratelli tutti, speaks directly to the “joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties” of migrants, refugees, and indeed all displaced and marginalized people. At its core, it is a call for greater fraternity and social friendship between all peoples and nations. The Holy Father is asking for “fraternal openness that allows us to acknowledge, appreciate and love each person, regardless of physical proximity, regardless of where he or she was born or lives.”
Instead of overheated self-centeredness – whether individual or group or societal –, an attitude of love and openness needs to prevail over the narrow ideologies of nationalism and individualism, which add up to “cool, comfortable and globalized indifference.” This of course has clear implications for how we treat asylum-seekers, refugees, the internally displaced and vulnerable migrants. We are called to love our neighbor, say Jesus and Pope Francis, but “complex challenges arise when our neighbor happens to be an immigrant.”
The starting point is to recognize the “right not to emigrate, that is, to remain in one’s homeland.” All people have the right to a dignified life and integral development in their own home and native land. This entails the whole world’s responsibility to assist poorer homelands to flourish. The investments they need are not only in sustainable economic development but also and essentially in combating poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation, and climate change. Read more…
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On Wednesday, April 10, the European Parliament voted on the European Pact on Asylum and Migration. JRS Europe directors jointly opposed the pact and urged European institutions to reject it: "We cannot support a system that will allow the systematic detention of thousands of people, including children, at the EU external borders."
The Cartagena Declaration, adopted in 1984, emerged in response to the growing displacement crises in Latin America. Its importance lies in its expanded approach to defining a refugee, recognising the causes of displacement beyond armed conflict events. Despite progress in these 40 years, implementation challenges of the recognition criteria and the commitments made in the adopted plans persist.
This story narrates the spontaneous act of hospitality leading to a community effort to support a migrant family's journey. It illustrates the transformative power of personal compassion amidst global migration challenges.
The Migrants and Refugees Network in Asia Pacific gathered to address migrant and refugee challenges, guided by collaboration, prayer, and Ignatian spirituality principles. Discussions ranged from updates on regional migrant situations to Taiwan's progressive immigrant response, culminating in the finalization of a five-year action plan highlighting the network's dual mission of support for both migrants and its members.
This first publication of 2024 provides an overview of the latest data, changes and trends in the context of most of the region's countries (Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada).
