Scottish Catholic Observer

The Pope was speaking to migrants who had gathered in Rome for the Sunday Angelus address. St Peter’s Square was coloured by the flags of many countries as migrants and asylum seekers joined the Holy Father on the World Day for Migrants and Refugees.

“Dear migrants and refugees, each one of you carries within yourself a story, a culture, of precious value, and often unfortunately experiences of misery, oppression and fear,” the Pope said. “Your presence in this square is a sign of hope in God.”

The Pope said he viewed with great affection the ethnic communities in Vatican City and those who help and welcome the migrants.

And he urged the gathered migrants not to allow difficulties ‘to deprive them of this hope and of the joy of life that derive from experiencing divine mercy, thanks also to those who welcome you and help you.’

The Pope’s message on migrants came before British Prime Minister David Cameron’s controversial plan to make learning English a requirement for female Muslim immigrants to Britain within a set timeframe, particularly those on a spouse visa, or face deportation. The PM was accused of ‘lazy and misguided’ policy-making after he said a poor grasp of English left Muslim women in the UK ‘more susceptible’ to the lure of extremism. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi—a former Conservative chairman—said he was guilty of ‘stereotyping communities.’

Italy has been at the forefront of migration to Europe from Africa in recent years with thousands of people making the perilous trip across the Mediterranean fleeing poverty and warfare.

An estimated 99,000 migrants were hosted in Italy last year at a cost of €1.16bn, while others made the journey to Italy’s ports before moving on to other European countries. More than 3000 migrants, including children, were rescued from the Mediterranean by Italy’s coastguard in one day last year.

Earlier this month, in an annual address to diplomats at the Vatican City, Pope Francis spoke of his hope that European countries would welcome migrants.

“The present wave of migration seems to be undermining the foundations of that humanistic spirit which Europe has always loved and defended,” the Pope said, going on to stress the need to balance concerns. “Europe, aided by its great cultural and religious heritage, has the means to defend the centrality of the human person and to find the right balance between its two-fold moral responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens and to ensure assistance and acceptance to migrants.”

The Vatican has hosted its own refugee family and the Pope has called on parishes across the world to welcome migrants.

During his Angelus address, the Pope also gave a special thanks to the inmates of a detention centre in Milan who made the hosts for the Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica and dedicated to migrants and refugees.

The Pope also prayed for the victims of attacks in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, that killed a total of 37 people.

“May the Lord welcome them into His house, and support the commitment of the international community to build peace” he said.

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