Europe must accommodate migrants, says Francis

  VATICAN CITY - In a speech to the Vatican diplomatic corps, Pope Francis said Monday that the "the inevitable fear" caused by the "serious migratory emergency" must be overcome in order to address "such a massive phenomenon which in 2015 has hit Europe above all, but also various regions in Asia and North and Central America.”

  The pontiff stated that Europe must continue to accommodate the influx of migrants, despite the "massive landings" and “fears of terrorism" that "seem to shake" Europe's reception of them. Europe must overcome its "fears for security”, and the pope made a special mention to Italy for "saving so many lives in the Mediterranean.”

  "Many migrants from Asia and Africa”, remarked the pope, “see Europe as a example of such principles as equality in the eyes of the law to principles such as equality before the law, love of one’s neighbour without distinction of the origin and freedom of conscience. However, the massive landings on the shores of the Old Continent seem to shake the reception system, painstakingly built on the ashes of World War II and which is still a beacon of humanity. In the face of the influx of these migrants, many questions have arisen about the real possibilities of reception and adaptation of people, about changing the social and cultural milieu of the host countries, as well as the redrawing of some regional geo-political balance.”

  Francis also reiterated a prior appeal to "stop people trafficking, which turns human beings into a commodity, especially the weakest and most defenceless." He told the Vatican diplomatic corps that "the images of children dead at sea are indelibly impressed in our minds and hearts.”

    The pope said the Holy See hopes that the first World Humanitarian Summit at the United Nations in May can "succeed, amid the sad daily picture of conflicts and disasters, in decisively overcoming the throwaway culture". Francis told the ambassadors to the Vatican that "we all look with hope to the important steps taken by the international community to reach a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis in Syria, to put an end to the suffering, which has lasted too long, of the population." 

  He also pointed out that only "common action" can defeat terrorism and extremism

  The pontiff also took a moment to reflect on the recent inauguration of the Jubilee in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, which ”gave a sign of encouragement" to the country and reiterated that "those who believe in God must be men of peace."

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