The 96th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on Sunday, January 17, 2010, will have the theme: 'Minor migrants and refugees.' In his message, published for the occasion, the Pope Benedict XVI underlines the "Churchs constant concern for those who, in different ways, experience a life of emigration,? and recalls that ?Jesus himself experienced migration for, as the Gospel recounts, in order to flee the threats of Herod, he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary."
The Pope then denounces "the dramatic situation" of many children in the world. While the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that the best interests of the minor shall always be safeguarded, recognizing his or her fundamental human rights as equal to the rights of adults, unfortunately "this does not always happen in practice." The pope, therefore, expresses his hope that "proper attention will be given to minor migrants who need a social environment that permits and fosters their physical, cultural, spiritual and moral development." Considering the situation of the children born in the host country or of those who do not live with their parents, who emigrated after their birth, but join them later, Benedict XVI underlined that they "belong to two cultures with all the advantages and problems attached to their dual background, a condition that can nevertheless offer them the opportunity to experience the wealth of an encounter between different cultural traditions. It is important that these young people be given the possibility of attending school and subsequently of being integrated into the world of work, and that their social integration be facilitated by appropriate educational and social structures."
The Pope then focuses on the increase in minors seeking asylum, who, for various reasons, are fleeing their own country and asks that "appropriate measures of prevention, protection and welcome" be implemented.
To Catholic parishes and associations that "take pains to meet the needs of these brothers and sisters of ours," the Holy Father expresses his gratitude, inviting all Christians to "become aware of the social and pastoral challenges posed by migrant and refugee minors." He concludes by saying that "any of our concrete interventions must first be nurtured by faith in the action of grace and divine Providence. In this way also hospitality and solidarity to strangers, especially if they are children, become a proclamation of the Gospel of solidarity. The Church proclaims this when she opens her arms and strives to have the rights of migrants and refugees respected, moving the leaders of Nations, and those in charge of international organizations and institutions to promote opportune initiatives for their support."
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