VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 131   
   DATE 15-07-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - THE POPE CALLS FOR URGENT INTERVENTION IN THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OF MIGRANT   
   CHILDREN   
   - CARDINAL PAROLIN IN MEXICO: MIGRATION AND RESPECT FOR THE PERSON   
   - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    THE POPE CALLS FOR URGENT INTERVENTION IN THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OF MIGRANT   
   CHILDREN   
    Vatican City, 15 July 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday Pope Francis sent a message to   
   the organisers, speakers and participants in the "Mexico/Holy See Colloquium   
   on Migration and Development", which was read during the inaugural session of   
   the event by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. In the text, the   
   Pontiff urges the international community to promote the adoption of new forms   
   of legal and safe migration and called for protection and a suitable reception   
   for the many children who migrate cross the border with the United States   
   unaccompanied. He also highlights the need for policies to inform potential   
   migrants of the dangers of such a journey and above all, for initiatives to   
   promote development in their countries of origin.   
    "Globalisation is a phenomenon that challenges us, especially in one of its   
   principal manifestations which is emigration. It is one of the 'signs' of this   
   time that we live in and that brings us back to the words of Jesus, 'Why do   
   you not know how to interpret the present time?'. Despite the large influx of   
   migrants present in all continents and in almost all countries, migration is   
   still seen as an emergency, or as a circumstantial and sporadic fact, while   
   instead it has now become a hallmark of our society and a challenge.   
    "It is a phenomenon that carries with it great promise and many challenges.   
   Many people forced to emigrate suffer, and often, die tragically; many of   
   their rights are violated, they are obliged to separate from their families   
   and, unfortunately, continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic   
   attitudes.   
    "Faced with this situation, I repeat what I have affirmed in this year's   
   Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees: 'A change of attitude   
   towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away   
   from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalisation -   
   all typical of a throwaway culture - towards attitudes based on a culture of   
   encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and   
   fraternal world'.   
    "I would also like to draw attention to the tens of thousands of children who   
   migrate alone, unaccompanied, to escape poverty and violence: This is a   
   category of migrants from Central America and Mexico itself who cross the   
   border with the United States under extreme conditions and in pursuit of a   
   hope that in most cases turns out to be vain. They are increasing day by day.   
   This humanitarian emergency requires, as a first urgent measure, these   
   children be welcomed and protected. These measures, however, will not be   
   sufficient, unless they are accompanied by policies that inform people about   
   the dangers of such a journey and, above all, that promote development in   
   their countries of origin. Finally, this challenge demands the attention of   
   the entire international community so that new forms of legal and secure   
   migration may be adopted.   
    "I wish every success to the laudable initiative of the Mexican government's   
   Ministry of Foreign Affairs in arranging a colloquium of study and reflection   
   on the great challenge of migration and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing   
   to all those present".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    CARDINAL PAROLIN IN MEXICO: MIGRATION AND RESPECT FOR THE PERSON   
    Vatican City, 15 July 2014 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin   
   spoke at yesterday's meeting between Mexico and the Holy See dedicated to   
   "international migration and development", attended also by the foreign   
   ministers of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, on the theme of the   
   responsibility of the parties involved in the phases of departure, transit and   
   arrival of migrants. The following are extensive extracts from his address,   
   given in Spanish.   
    "The great contribution of Christianity to humanity, then, with the maturing   
   of the times, will be recognised for the enlightenment that universal   
   fraternity is a political category. Reason enlightened by faith joyfully shows   
   that the human family are all children of the same Father. ... In a radical   
   way, Christianity has stated from the very beginning that we are all free, we   
   are all equal, we are all brothers. As a result, the dignity of the person   
   derives not from their economic situation, political affiliation, level of   
   education, immigration status or religious belief. Every human being, for the   
   very fact of being a person, possesses a dignity that deserves to be treated   
   with the utmost respect.   
    "Every day we receive further news of the huge number of people in the world   
   who are forced to leave behind their homeland on account of tragic situations   
   of suffering and pain. The causes are always the same: violation of the most   
   elementary human rights, violence, lack of security, wars, unemployment and   
   poverty. ... In their attempt to arrive in a promised land where it is   
   possible to lead a dignified life, thousands of people experience hunger,   
   humiliation, violations of their dignity, sometimes torture, and some die amid   
   the indifference of many. It is astonishing to see that, in the twenty-first   
   century, there are victims of human trafficking, forced to work in conditions   
   of semi-slavery or sexually abused; there are those who fall into the clutches   
   of criminal bands who operate at a transnational level, often with impunity on   
   account of corruption and certain collusion. The issue before us today, human   
   mobility in today's world, is entrenched in this world of pain to which no-one   
   can remain indifferent, especially the Church. It is the greatest movement of   
   people, including entire populations, of all time.   
    "I think I can say with reason that in our globalised world, progress is not   
   achieved only with a greater flow of capital, goods and information. An   
   increase in the commercial and financial exchange between nations does not   
   automatically lead to an improvement in the living standards of the   
   population, nor does it automatically generate more wealth. In this regard, we   
   note that nations, especially those that are more economically and socially   
   advanced, owe their development largely to migrants. ... Those societies in   
   which legal immigrants are not openly welcomed, but are instead treated with   
   prejudice, as dangerous or harmful subjects, show themselves to be weak and   
   unprepared for the challenges of the coming decades. By contrast, those that   
   are able to see newcomers as generators of wealth, especially of a human and   
   cultural nature, therefore know how to appropriately welcome them; those   
   societies that make consistent efforts to integrate immigrants, offer an   
   unequivocal message of solidity and guarantees to the entire international   
   community, which can generate further progress.   
    "It is certain that human mobility and its impact on development are two of   
   the most complex social phenomena, difficult to resolve without a general   
   spirit of trust. On the one hand, immigrants must seek to integrate in the   
   country that receives them, respecting its laws and national identity. On the   
   other, the State also has the duty of defending its borders, without ever   
   forgetting the importance of respect for human righs and the duty of   
   solidarity. It is clear that the phenomenon of migration cannot be resolved   
   solely by legislative measures or by adopting public policies, good though   
   they may be, and far less so solely through the deployment of the forces of   
   security and order. The solution to the problem of migration requires a   
   profound cultural and social conversion that enables a closed culture to   
   transform into a 'culture of welcome and encounter'.   
    "In this context, the Church has always been, and will continue to be, a   
   loyal collaborator. ... By definition, being Catholic means being universal   
   and transnational. Its message is not confined to the private lives of the   
   faithful, but instead seeks conversion, expanding and reaching towards paths   
   of culture and social justice, since it is not possible to define oneself as   
   Christian and then turn one's back on justice and fraternity, also with   
   non-believers. Furthermore, the Holy See, the central government of the   
   universal Church, is a subject with full sovereignty in international law and   
   has full legal personality. ... Aided by Pontifical Representatives, the Holy   
   See participates in the most varied political forums with the aim of ensuring   
   that universal human rights are fully protected with respect for the ethical   
   and moral principles that shape social life. The Church will always support,   
   at national and international level, any initiative for the adoption of joint   
   policies.   
    "In relation to the phenomenon of migration, we urgently need to overcome   
   atavistic fears and to establish common strategies at sub-regional, regional   
   and worldwide levels to include all sectors of society. Let us think, for   
   example, of the United States of America, whose administration has in recent   
   weeks published data referring to the migratory flow of children who cross   
   borders unaccompanied by adults. The number grows exponentially day by day.   
   Whether they are journeying because of poverty, violence or in the hope of   
   reuniting with families on the other side of the border, it is urgent to   
   protect and help them, as their weakness is greater and, defenceless, they are   
   vulnerable to all forms of abuse and misfortune. Politics is the art of the   
   possible. Let us make possible what seems impossible; let us be ambitious in   
   facing up to challenges. Let us not be discouraged by apparent failures."   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS   
    Vatican City, 15 July 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father has:   
    - accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of   
   Karaganda, Kazakhstan, presented by Bishop Janusz Wieslaw Kaleta, in   
   accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.   
    - appointed Msgr. Giuseppe Satriano as archbishop of Rossano-Cariati (area   
   1,415, population 139,400, Catholics 136,900, priests 87, permanent deacons 2,   
   religious 105), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Brindisi, Italy in 1960   
   and ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a licentiate in bioethics from the   
   "Regina Apostolurum" Institute in Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral   
   roles, including: spiritual father and subsequently rector of the diocesan   
   seminary of Ostuni; vicar of the parish of "Maria SS. Annunziati" in Ostuni;   
   and priest "fidei donum" in Kenya-Marsabit, and canon of the Cathedral   
   chapter. He is currently vicar general of the archdiocese and episcopal vicar   
   for the clergy and for consecrated life.   
    - appointed Msgr. Wojciech Zaluski, nunciature advisor, as apostolic nuncio   
   in Burundi, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. Msgr.   
   Zaluski was born in Zaluski-Lipnewo, Poland in 1960 and ordained a priest in   
   1985. He holds a degree in canon law and has served in the diplomatic service   
   of the Holy See since 1989, in the apostolic nunciatures of Burundi, Malta,   
   Albania, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Georgia, Ukraine, Philippines, and Guatemala.   
      
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