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Populism 'fueling self-centered rejection of migrants'

Pope calls for attitude change in understanding needs of refugees
Populism 'fueling self-centered rejection of migrants'

Pope Francis says church and civil society must have a "shared response" in helping migrants and refugees. (Photo by Tiziana Fabi/AFP)

Published: February 22, 2017 05:00 AM GMT
Updated: May 15, 2017 11:21 AM GMT

Indifference, fueled by populist rhetoric in today's world, fans the flames of rejection that threaten the rights and dignity of migrants, Pope Francis said.

Refugees escaping persecution, violence and poverty are often shunned and deemed as "unworthy of our attention, a rival or someone to be bent to our will," the pope told participants of the VI International Forum on Migration and Peace.

"Faced with this kind of rejection, rooted ultimately in self-centeredness and amplified by populist demagoguery, what is needed is a change of attitude to overcome indifference and to counter fears with a generous approach of welcoming those who knock at our doors," Catholic News Service reported him as saying on Feb. 21.

The Feb. 21-22 conference, "Integration and Development: From Reaction to Action," was organized by the Scalabrini International Migration Network and sponsored by the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

In his speech, the pope said millions of people are being forced to flee their homelands due to "conflict, natural disasters, persecution, climate change, violence, extreme poverty and inhumane living conditions."

To confront this challenge, he said, the church and civil society must have a "shared response" of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.

Providing access to "secure humanitarian channels" — legal paths to safety — is crucial in helping people who are "fleeing conflicts and terrible persecutions," but are often met with rejection and indifference.

Pope Francis called for "a change of attitude" in understanding the needs of migrants and refugees, a change that moves away from fear and indifference to a "culture of encounter" that builds "a better, more just and fraternal world."

Full story: Populism fueling self-centered rejection of migrants, pope says

Source: Catholic News Service

 

 

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