Pope Benedict XVI announced
the theme of
“One
Human Family” as the
message of the 97th World
Day of Migrants and Refugees
to be held in January.
Echoed by other Vatican
officials, the Pontiff
stressed the importance of
recognizing
the
“profound link between all
human beings” and the need
for the rights of all
individuals to be protected.
“All,” he continued,
“belong to one family,
migrants and the local
populations that welcome
them, and all have the same
right to enjoy the goods of
the earth whose destination
is universal, as the social
doctrine of the Church
teaches. It is here that
solidarity and sharing are
founded.”
"The challenge," he said,
"consists in creating areas
of tolerance, hope, healing
and protection, and in
ensuring that these dramas
and tragedies – too often
experienced in the past and
in the present – never
happen again.”
On the inherent struggles
within society in welcoming
and assimilating individuals
from other cultures,
Archbishop Veglio noted that
“the Holy Father's Message
also reinforces
the international
community's perception of
the importance of dialogue
and promotes the recognition
of human rights for
everyone, combating new
forms of racism and
discrimination.”
Pope Benedict also
emphasized in his message on
human unity that that “the
presence of the Church,
as the People of God
journeying through history
among all the other peoples,
is a source of trust and
hope.”
“It is
the Holy Eucharist in
particular that constitutes,
in the heart of the Church,
an inexhaustible source of
communion for the whole of
humanity,”
he underscored.
“It is thanks to this that
the People of God includes
'every nation, race, people,
and tongue,' not with a sort
of sacred power but with the
superior service of
charity.”
