Vatican City, Jan 17, 2010 / 09:48 am
The World Day for Migrants and Refugees was recognized by the Pope in the Angelus on Sunday. The Holy Father called for special consideration for child refugees as he reflected on the newborn baby Jesus and his “dramatic refugee experience."
Referring to refugees and immigrants , Pope Benedict said, “The presence of the Church beside these people has been constant over history," citing the specific contributions of blessed Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini and Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini at the turn of the 20th century.
The Holy Father called for attention to young migrant and refugee, who, like Jesus who had lived as a refugee after his birth, taught his disciples “to take in children with great respect and love.”
Pope Benedict added, “Also the child, in fact, regardless of his nationality and skin color, is to be considering first of all and always as a person, image of God, to encourage and protect against every marginalization and exploitation. In particular, we must take every care so that minors that find themselves living in a foreign country are guaranteed for on the legislative plane and above all (are) accompanied in the innumerable problems that they must confront.”