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                               VIS-Press releases

MIGRANT FAMILY: THEME FOR DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2006 (VIS) - Made public today was Benedict XVI's Message
for the 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees, due to be celebrated on
Sunday, January 14, 2007. The theme of the Day is "the migrant family," and the
text, published in Italian, French, English, Spanish, German and Portuguese, is
dated October 18.

The complete text of the English version of the Message is given below:

"On the occasion of the coming World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and looking
at the Holy Family of Nazareth, icon of all families, I would like to invite
you to reflect on the condition of the migrant family. The evangelist Matthew
narrates that shortly after the birth of Jesus, Joseph was forced to leave for
Egypt by night, taking the child and his mother with him, in order to flee the
persecution of King Herod. Making a comment on this page of the Gospel, my
venerable Predecessor, Servant of God Pope Pius XII, wrote in 1952: 'The family
of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants and taking refuge in
Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are the model, the example and the
support of all emigrants and pilgrims of every age and every country, of all
refugees of any condition who, compelled by persecution and need, are forced to
abandon their homeland, their beloved relatives, their neighbors, their dear
friends, and move to a foreign land.' In this misfortune experienced by the
Family of Nazareth, obliged to take refuge in Egypt, we can catch a glimpse of
the painful condition in which all migrants live, especially, refugees, exiles,
evacuees, internally displaced persons, those who are persecuted. We can take a
quick look at the difficulties that every migrant family lives through, the
hardships and humiliations, the deprivation and fragility of millions and
millions of migrants, refugees and internally displaced people. The Family of
Nazareth reflects the image of God safeguarded in the heart of every human
family, even if disfigured and weakened by emigration.

"The theme of the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees - the migrant family
- is in continuity with those of 1980, 1986 and 1993. It intends to underline
further the commitment of the Church not only in favor of the individual
migrant, but also of his family, which is a place and resource of the culture
of life and a factor for the integration of values. The migrant's family meets
many difficulties. The distance of its members from one another and
unsuccessful reunification often result in breaking the original ties. New
relationships are formed and new affections arise. Some migrants forget the
past and their duties, as they are subjected to the hard trial of distance and
solitude. If the immigrant family is not ensured of a real possibility of
inclusion and participation, it is difficult to expect its harmonious
development. The International Convention for the protection of the rights of
all migrant workers and members of their families, which was enforced on July
1, 2003, intends to defend men and women migrant workers and the members of
their respective families. This means that the value of the family is
recognized, also in the sphere of emigration, which is now a structural
phenomenon of our societies. The Church encourages the ratification of the
international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants,
refugees and their families and, through its various institutions and
associations, offers her advocacy that is becoming more and more necessary. To
this end, she has opened centers where migrants are listened to, houses where
they are welcomed, offices for services offered to persons and families, with
other initiatives set up to respond to the growing needs in this field.

"Much is already being done for the integration of the families of immigrants,
although much still remains to be done. There are real difficulties connected
with some 'defense mechanisms' on the part of the first generation immigrants,
which run the risk of becoming an obstacle to the greater maturity of the young
people of the second generation. This is why it is necessary to provide for
legislative, juridical and social intervention to facilitate such an
integration. In recent times, there is an increase in the number of women who
leave their countries of origin in search of better conditions of life, in view
of more promising professional prospects. However, women who end up as victims
of trafficking of human beings and of prostitution are not few in number. In
family reunification, social workers, especially religious women, can render an
appreciated service of mediation that merits our gratitude more and more.

"Regarding the integration of the families of immigrants, I feel it my duty to
call your attention to the families of refugees, whose conditions seem to have
gone worse in comparison with the past, also specifically regarding the
reunification of family nuclei. In the camps assigned to them, in addition to
logistic difficulties, and those of a personal character linked to the trauma
and emotional stress caused by the tragic experiences they went through,
sometimes there is also the risk of women and children being involved in sexual
exploitation, as a survival mechanism. In these cases an attentive pastoral
presence is necessary. Aside from giving assistance capable of healing the
wounds of the heart, pastoral care should also offer the support of the
Christian community, able to restore the culture of respect and have the true
value of love found again. It is necessary to encourage those who are
interiorly-wrecked to recover trust in themselves. Everything must also be done
to guarantee the rights and dignity of the families and to assure them housing
facilities according to their needs. Refugees are asked to cultivate an open
and positive attitude towards their receiving society and maintain an active
willingness to accept offers to participate in building together an integrated
community that would be a 'common household' for all.

"Among migrants, there is a category that needs to be considered in a special
way: students from other countries, who are far from home, without an adequate
knowledge of the language, at times without friends and often with a
scholarship that is insufficient for their needs. Their condition is even worse
if they are married. Through her institutions, the Church exerts every effort
to render the absence of family support for these young students less painful.
It helps them integrate in the cities that receive them, by putting them in
contact with families that are willing to offer them hospitality and facilitate
knowing one another. As I had the opportunity to say on another occasion,
helping foreign students is 'an important field of pastoral action. . Indeed,
young people who leave their own country in order to study encounter many
problems and especially the risk of an identity crisis.'

"Dear brothers and sisters, may the World Day of Migrants and Refugees become a
useful occasion to build awareness, in the ecclesial community and public
opinion, regarding the needs and problems, as well as the positive
potentialities of migrant families. My thoughts go in a special way to those
who are directly involved in the vast phenomenon of migration, and to those who
expend their pastoral energy in the service of human mobility. The words of the
apostle Paul, 'caritas Christi urget nos,' urge us to give ourselves
preferentially to our brothers and sisters who are most in need. With these
sentiments, I invoke divine assistance on each one and I affectionately impart
to all a special apostolic blessing.
MESS/MIGRANT:REFUGEE DAY/... VIS 061114 (1280)

SUMMARY

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