Pope Francis on Thursday said
migrants and refugees should be welcomed, protected and
integrated by the international community.
He said this was one of the "most pressing humanitarian
issues" facing the international community.
The pope was speaking at am audience in which ambassadors
from Tanzania, Lesotho, Pakistan, Mongolia, Denmark, Ethiopia
and Finland presented their credentials.
"Among the most pressing of the humanitarian issues facing
the international community at present is the need to welcome,
protect, promote and integrate all those fleeing from war and
hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and
environmental degradation to leave their homelands," Francis
said.
"As I had occasion to reiterate in my Message for this
year's World Day of Peace, this problem has an intrinsically
ethical dimension that transcends national borders and narrow
conceptions of security and self-interest.
"Notwithstanding the complexity and delicacy of the political
and social issues involved, individual nations and the
international community are called to contribute as best they
can to the work of pacification and reconciliation through
decisions and policies marked above all by compassion, foresight
and courage."
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
