Pope Francis calls for Europe to find ‘right balance’ on migrants

Pope Francis put the emphasis firmly on the plight of migrants in his annual address to diplomats at the Vatican, saying their cry is "the cry of those who would readily return to their own country, if only there they could find adequate conditions of security and sustenance".

In his address to the Holy See resident diplomatic corps, the pope made no reference to the New Year’s Eve incidents of sexual harassment in Cologne reportedly involving migrants and asylum seekers, but he did acknowledge that the migration issue poses serious cultural problems.

“The massive number of arrivals on the shores of Europe appear to be overburdening the system of reception painstakingly built on the ashes of the second World War, a system that is still an acknowledged beacon of humanity. Given the immense influx and the inevitable problems it creates, a number of questions have to be raised about the real possibilities for accepting and accommodating people, about changes in the cultural and social structures of the receiving countries, and about the reshaping of certain regional geopolitical balances.

“Equally significant are fears about security, further exacerbated by the growing threat of international terrorism. The present wave of migration seems to be undermining the foundations of that ‘humanistic spirit’ which Europe has always loved and defended.”

Principles of humanity

Calling on Europe not to lose “the values and principles of humanity”, Pope Francis expressed the conviction that Europe can “find the right balance between its twofold moral responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens and to ensure assistance and acceptance to migrants”.

In his address, the pope also offered his own review of the year. He recalled his visits in 2015 to Sarajevo, Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba and the US, while pointing out that he will be seeing the migration problem first-hand next month when he visits Ciudad Juarez on the US-Mexico border, during his pastoral visit to Mexico.

On the international front, the pope welcomed the Iran nuclear deal and the outcome of the Paris climate conference. In contrast, he expressed his concern about "serious disagreements" in the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia-Iran tensions) as well as about the "disturbing military test" on "the Korean peninsula", calling for these tensions to be resolved by the "voice of peace".

Returning to the migration issue, the pope said that his thoughts continually turn to Middle Eastern Christians, "who desire to contribute fully as citizens to the spiritual and material wellbeing of their respective nations". With specific reference to the ongoing conflict in Syria, he also used his address to praise the efforts of neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan in offering shelter to hundreds of thousands of migrants.

Efforts praised

In that same context the pope also praised the efforts of both

Italy

and

Greece

as their overstretched naval services struggled hard to confront the Mediterranean migrant influx. Finally, he said that today the world hears the Old Testament cry of Rachel, one of Jacob’s two wives, weeping for her children:

“Hers is the plea of thousands of people who weep as they flee horrific wars, persecutions and human rights violations, or political or social instability, which often make it impossible for them to live in their native lands. It is the cry of those forced to flee in order to escape unspeakable acts of cruelty towards vulnerable persons, such as children and the disabled, or martyrdom solely on account of their religion.”