VATICAN - 6th World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees: “A pastoral response to the phenomenon of migration in the era of globalization.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – November 9-12, the Vatican will be hosting the 6th World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees on the theme: “A pastoral response to the phenomenon of migration in the era of globalization. Five years after the Instruction 'Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi.'” The Congress will be attended by Delegates of the Episcopal Commissions for Human Mobility from every continent, representatives of the European Council of Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) and the Latin-American Bishops' Council (CELAM), members of the Congregations and Religious Institutes, Associations and Ecclesial Movements that work with migrants and refugees, members of other Churches, representatives of the International Organizations and International Catholic Organizations, along with Experts, Members, and Consultants of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees, which is promoting and coordinating the Congress.
“Globalization has allowed us to reach extraordinary goals in various fields, however the unsatisfactory results cannot be hidden,” said Archbishop Veglio, President of the Pontifical Council of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, presenting the Congress to journalists. “Globalization has created a new labor market and, consequently, forced many to emigrate, also in order to flee from poverty, misery, natural catastrophes and local and international conflicts, as well as from political or religious persecution. This has opened markets to international intervention, but it has not torn down the walls of national boundaries to allow the free circulation of people, even with due respect for the sovereignty of States and their constitutional charters, safeguarding legality and security.” Archbishop Veglio highlighted the risk that today “the entire debate over globalization be relegated to a merely economic-financial sphere,” while for Christians “the challenge is how to promote and safeguard every human person, with preference for the most vulnerable, e.g. the migrants and refugees.” Thus, “the Church is close to migrants, especially to the victims of human trafficking, to refugees, to asylum seekers, and to the people who undergo the drama of human mobility. She is called to defend their cause in various contexts, also through collaboration in promoting adequate laws, at the local and international levels, that favor proper integration.”
For his part, Archbishop Marchetto outlined the programme of the forthcoming congress, which will begin at 8 a.m. on 9 November with Mass in the Vatican Basilica presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. During the opening session the participants will be received in audience by the Holy Father, while the afternoon of the first day will be dedicated to the theme of population movements, both as cause and effect of globalization. The morning of 10 November will be devoted to the question of youth pastoral care among migrants and refugees, and co-operation with Churches of origin and arrival. The afternoon of 10 November and the morning of 11 November will be dedicated to the subject of dialogue and collaboration as they relate to the theme of the congress. Also on 11 November attention will turn to the questions of the "needs and challenges of ecumenical and inter-religious co-operation in the current situation of migrants and refugees (experience of the ecclesial movements)", and "co-operation between the Church and civil institutions for the wellbeing of migrants and refugees". The afternoon of the same day will see a round table discussion on "the pastoral care of migrants and refugees in prison and in detention camps". The congress will come to a close on 12 November with the presentation of the final document, in its three traditional parts: event, conclusions, and recommendations. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 4/11/2009)