European countries can turn the migration crisis into a "window" of opportunity, dialogue and encounter between migrants and their citizens, Pope Francis said. "No one can remain indifferent to the human tragedies that continue to occur in different regions of the world. Among these, we are often challenged by those that have as their theatre the Mediterranean, a border sea that is also, however, a sea of encounter among cultures," the Pope said on September 10 during a meeting with members of Snapshots from the Borders. According to its website, Snapshots from the Borders is a three-year project co-funded by the European Union. Its goal is "to improve the critical understanding of European, national and local decision makers and of public opinion" about the flow of migrants in Europe "to promote more effective policy coherence at all levels." Welcoming the group to the Vatican, the pope praised the project, which allows European societies "to give a more human and coordinated response to the challenges of contemporary migration." The current migration crisis, he said, is "complex and often has dramatic implications" that "challenge everyone." While the international community "has been content with military interventions" to respond to regional tensions, he said, it should instead build "institutions that can guarantee equal opportunities and enable citizens to assume their responsibility for the common good." "In front of these challenges, it seems clear that concrete solidarity and shared responsibility, both at a national and international level, are indispensable," the Pope said. "We must act together, not alone." Pope Francis emphasized the need to "change the way we see and talk about migration" and pave the way "toward a new humanism" not only "as a philosophy of life, but also as a spirituality and a style of behaviour." "Borders, which always have been considered barriers of division, can instead become 'windows,' spaces of mutual knowledge, of mutual enrichment, of communion in diversity," the Pope said.
6:58 PM
Pope Francis: borders can be ‘windows’ instead of barriers of division
European countries can turn the migration crisis into a "window" of opportunity, dialogue and encounter between migrants and their citizens, Pope Francis said
Junno Arocho Esteves

Already a subscriber? Sign in
5freearticles every month
Continue reading with a free account. No card needed.
- Five free articles every thirty days, on any device you sign in on
- The Catholic Herald newsletter, every morning
- Subscribe whenever you like for everything: every article and the magazine

subscribe to the catholic herald today
Our best content is exclusively available to our subscribers. Subscribe today and gain instant access to expert analysis, in-depth articles, and thought-provoking insights—anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss out on the conversations that matter most.
Subscribe












