EUROPE/PORTUGAL - Day of migrants: it is possible to live reception

Thursday, 26 September 2019 migrants solidarity local churches ecclesial movements

Vaticano

PORTUGAL

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2019-09-26
Day of migrants: it is possible to live reception

Lisbon (Agenzia Fides) - Christian communities have the obligation to demonstrate that it is "possible to live reception, protection, integration and promotion" with refugees and migrants. This was stated by Eugenia Quaresma, director of the Portuguese Catholic Migration Society (OCPM), remarking: "The first appeal is to our communities. We have an evangelical mandate that invites us to welcome, which speaks of protection, which tells us that in every nation there are disciples of Christ to fulfill this mandate". The director spoke about the upcoming celebration of World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which the Catholic Church celebrates on Sunday, September 29th.
The director of the OCPM states that "in taking care of migrants and refugees, each person also takes care of himself". The woman underlines the "strong appeal" on how "society lives humanity" and how "the emphasis is on human exploitation", on human trafficking and on the responsibility of every person".
Pope Francis has chosen the theme "It is not just migrants" and the subtitle "it also concerns our fears" for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
"The theme is very beautiful, partly because of the pedagogical way in which it was presented to us, starting from the biblical message. Then there is a message of the magisterium and therefore practical examples of how the Word can be put into practice in everyday life", concludes Eugenia Quaresma.
According to the latest data published by the United Nations, in Portugal there are 880,188 immigrants, representing 8.55% of the population of Portugal. Female immigration is higher than men, with 469,533 women, representing 53.34% of total immigrants, compared to 410,655 male immigrants, who are 46.65%.
Looking at the ranking of the presence of immigrants, Portugal is the 64th country in the world in percentage. The main countries of origin of immigrants present in Portugal are Angola, 18.19%, Brazil, 15.62% and France, 10.57%. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2019)