THE HOLY SEE IN THE PREPARATORY PROCESSES OF
THE GLOBAL COMPACT FOR SAFE, ORDERLY AND REGULAR MIGRATION

Secretariat of State
Meeting with the Diplomatic Corps residing in Rome
(Old Synod Hall, Vatican City State, 19 October 2018)

Concluding Remarks of His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State

Distinguished Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to take the floor at the conclusion of this meeting and I warmly thank the Section for Relations with States for organizing it, and all of you for participating. Your presence today is a testament to your interest, and that of the authorities you represent, to follow the activity of the Holy See and collaborate with it in the great issues affecting our world.

Regarding the theme of migration, the interventions you heard before illustrate only a portion of the activity of the Holy See regarding the Global Compacts and that of the Catholic Church in favour of migrants, a reality that marks profoundly marks our day and which, most likely, will mark even more the future.

Today, as it is well known, migration, as well as the question of international protection, which should be assured to those fleeing from persecution and conflict, one of the major objectives of the human family in the years following the atrocities of the Second World War, remains a very delicate topic.

Recently, Pope Francis noted that, “we live in times when certain feelings and sentiments that seemed to have been overcome are coming back to life. Feelings of suspicion, of fear, of contempt and even of hatred towards individuals or groups judged different because of their ethnic, national or religious affiliation and, as such, deemed not worthy enough to participate fully in the life of society. These feelings, too often, inspire real acts of intolerance, discrimination or exclusion, which seriously damage the dignity of the people involved and their fundamental rights, including the right to life and to physical and moral integrity. Unfortunately, it also happens that in the world of politics you give in to the temptation to exploit the fears or the objective difficulties of some groups and to use illusory promises for short-sighted campaign interests.”[1]

Migration, however, is a reality that from the beginning of humanity has helped to foster human relationships, to create new bonds of collaboration, to bolster the exchange of knowledge and cultural and economic enrichment, to compensate for labour and demographic shortages and to expand the outlook of people to see objectively an interconnected world.

The challenges of today, therefore, must not obscure the opportunities that come with present-day migrations. From this perspective, the Holy See tries to help understand and deal with this complex phenomenon. It has done so with sincere concern for the people involved and with respect to States who are primarily responsible for welcoming them, in a spirit of openness, responsibility and collaboration. Only on the basis of a mutual understanding may one propose a lasting response to today’s human mobility, sustainable for migrants and refugees, as for all the countries concerned.

The mobilization of Governments and other stakeholders to reach an agreement on the two Global Compacts is already, in itself, a comforting sign. This will be even more convincing if the two Compacts are effectively implemented. While it is true that the Compacts will not be legally binding, they constitute, however, the acceptance of international responsibility and they demonstrate the will of the global community to begin filling the existing political void by recognizing the rights of migrants and refugees, of providing assistance to the countries that welcome them and of becoming more attentive of the need to address the causes of forced migration.

Each of us can, and must, do our part to help in this cause, even with regard to shaping the narrative on migration, but also the willingness to open spaces for listening to these people and their problems. Pope Francis, in his Message for the World Day of Peace this year also recalled that: “practicing the virtue of prudence, government leaders should take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect, integrate and, ‘within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good, to permit [them] to become part of a new society.’ Leaders have a clear responsibility towards their own communities, whose legitimate rights and harmonious development they must ensure.”[2]

This is an ongoing challenge.

For this, as believers, may the Lord, who in the Gospel does not distinguish between who is and who is not our neighbour, sustain our efforts and reward our good will.

Thank you for your attention.

[1] Pope Francis, To Participants at the World Conference on Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of Global Migration, 20 September 2018.

[2] Pope Francis, World Day of Peace Message 2018, 13 November 2017.