“Let the routes travelled by migrants be made safe, so that they do not fall into the hands of the criminal networks that manipulate them and let there be a commitment to expand regular migration channels. This is also what the Pope meant speaking with sculpture Angel Unawares behind him. The sculpture depicts those migrants and refugees, “those men and women of all ages and backgrounds, in their midst the Angels who lead them", who lose their lives along the migratory routes, or who survive without having their dignity and rights recognized.
Starting from the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Pope dwelt on the dangers of the new migratory routes "that cross deserts, forests, rivers and seas".
"How many brothers and sisters today find themselves in the same condition as the wayfarer in the parable? So many! How many are robbed, stripped, and beaten along the way? They leave deceived by unscrupulous traffickers. They are then sold as bargaining chips. They are kidnapped, imprisoned, exploited, and enslaved. They are humiliated, tortured, and raped. And many, many die without ever reaching their destination. The migratory routes of our time are populated by wounded men and women left half-dead, by brothers and sisters whose pain cries out before God. They are often people fleeing war and terrorism, as we unfortunately see in these days,” the Holy Father said.
Today, as in the days of the Good Samaritan, 'there are those who see and pass by, certainly giving themselves a good excuse, in reality -out of selfishness, indifference, fear, this is the truth,' he added.
Pope Francis continued: "Instead, what does the Gospel say about that Samaritan? It says that he saw the wounded man and had compassion on him (v. 33). This is the key. And compassion is the imprint of God in our heart. God's style is closeness, compassion and tenderness (...) Like the Good Samaritan, we are called to be close to all the wayfarers of today, to save their lives, heal their wounds, soothe their pain. For many, unfortunately, it is too late, and all we can do is weep over their graves, if they have one, or the Mediterranean has ended up being the grave. But the Lord knows the face of each one and does not forget it."
By coming to the aid of the poor wayfarer, the Good Samaritan fulfils the four verbs 'that sum up' action with migrants: 'migrants must be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated'. And just as migrations today present critical issues, they can also represent opportunities for societies that are 'more inclusive, more beautiful, more peaceful'.
"We must all commit ourselves to making the roads safer, so that today's wayfarers do not fall victim to robbers," Pope Francis then urged. "It is necessary to multiply our efforts to combat criminal networks, which speculate on the dreams of migrants. But it is equally necessary to point out safer paths. For this, we must commit ourselves to expanding the regular migration channels”.
Demographic and economic policies must dialogue with migration policies, always putting the most vulnerable at the centre. A 'common and co-responsible approach to the governance of migration flows, which look set to increase in the coming years' must also be promoted.
The Pope concluded by asking everyone to be close to the migrants and the refugees knocking at the doors and invited a minute's silence to remember those who have lost their lives along the different migratory routes.
