This weekend, the Church celebrates the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDRM), a day in which (arch)dioceses around the world highlight the contributions of immigrants and refugees to the common good. This year Pope Leo XIV has chosen, “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope,” as the theme for WDRM.
The Holy Father’s theme and message are appropriate, because they highlight the special talents and contributions that newcomers bring to their new communities around the world. Here in Rhode Island, we witness how immigrants and refugees contribute their skills to our local economy, their values to our culture, and their strong faith to our parishes.
As Catholics, we are called to welcome the stranger, as taught to us by Christ in the Gospel of Matthew: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Mt 25-35). This is particularly important at a time in which immigrants and refugees are being dehumanized by some of our elected leaders and subject to a mass deportation effort, regardless of their ties and contributions to the US.
While Church teaching recognizes the right of a nation to enforce its laws and control its border, it also uplifts and defends the human rights and dignity of the migrant, who often can be subject to unjust laws and enforcement tactics. They also are often unjustly scapegoated for the social ills of our nation and dehumanized, often referred to as “criminals” or “illegals.”
Under the current deportation policy, immigrants who have built equities in our country are being detained and deported, at times without due process protections. Tragically, their families are being separated, with US-citizen children being forced to live in a country they do not know or being left behind in the US. This is cruel and inhumane.
Instead of a mass deportation campaign, the Church supports immigration reform that provides legal status and a path to citizenship to those who have lived in the US for a certain amount of time, contributed to the nation, and otherwise have been law abiding.
In his WDMR message, Pope Leo says that migrants are a “blessing” to their new communities and, because of their strong faith in God, can help strengthen our faith as a Church. I ask you to open your arms and hearts — and offer your prayers — to those newcomers who are in great need at this moment, in the name of Christ the Lord.