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Pope Francis noted the United Nations’ commemoration of World Refugee Day, marked on June 20, 2024, and pointed out four duties shared by all.
The Pope spoke of the World Day at the end of the general audience on June 19.
He expressed his hope that the day would be “an occasion to turn an attentive and fraternal gaze to all those who are compelled to flee their homes in search of peace and security.”
“We are all required to welcome, promote, accompany, and integrate those who knock on our doors,” he said.
And he added: “I pray that States will strive to ensure humane conditions for refugees and to facilitate integration processes.”
Welcome … integrate
While the humane and charitable treatment of migrants and refugees is one of the Pope’s most often repeated exhortations, his message takes in to account the complexities of the situations.
The Holy Father always calls not only for welcome, but also for integration.
In 2017, for example, he shared a personal anecdote that points to the successful integration of a refugee in a host country.
“Governments have to manage this with the virtue proper to governance, which is prudence,” he said in introducing the example.
Meaning what? First, how many places do we have available? Second, not just to accept, but to integrate. Here in Italy, I have seen marvelous examples of integration. When I went to the Roma III University, four students asked me questions. While the last one was asking her question, I kept looking at her and thinking: “I know that face…” Less than a year ago, she had travelled with me on the plane from Lesbos. She learned Italian and because she was studying biology in her country, she did her equivalency and continued her studies. She learned the language. This is what it means to integrate.
Read a beautiful first-person account of volunteering in Lesbos
And today we celebrate...