Pope calls on Christians to welcome immigrants

The Pope today denounced racism, xenophobia and the “terrible crime” of human trafficking in a message calling it a Christian duty to welcome immigrants.

At the same time, John Paul said immigrants must “honour the countries which receive them,” respecting the laws, culture and traditions.

“Only in this way will social harmony prevail,” the pope said.

The message was issued for the Roman Catholic Church’s annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees and at a time when the movement of millions of migrants from country to country has raised political and social tensions in many parts of the world.

A number of countries, including predominantly Roman Catholic Italy, have recently tightened their immigration laws.

The Pope lamented that the most vulnerable of migrants, especially women and children, are often the victims of ”the terrible crime of human trafficking.”

“Even in the recent past we have witnessed tragic instances of forced movements of peoples for ethnic and nationalistic pretension, which have added untold misery to the lives of targeted groups,” the Pope said.

John Paul said it is a “Christian duty to welcome whoever comes knocking out of need.”

“Often solidarity does not come easily,” the pope acknowledged. “It requires training and a turning away from attitudes of closure, which in many societies today have become more subtle and penetrating.”

He urged parents and teachers to combat racism and xenophobia by “inculcating positive attitudes based on Catholic social doctrine.”