Pope Francis emphasizes the duty to welcome and integrate migrants, drawing inspiration from the Gospel.

When addressing the challenges of global mass migration, Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of embracing, supporting, and integrating migrants, drawing inspiration from the teachings of the Gospel. As countries around the world, including Europe and the United States, grapple with managing the influx of migrants, the pontiff remains a vocal supporter of asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals seeking better economic opportunities.

The Pope acknowledges the harsh realities faced by many migrants, describing their experiences as a “drama of forced migration.” He highlights the perilous voyages undertaken by migrants across the sea in pursuit of a more promising future, a journey that all too often ends in tragedy.

During a recent address to an Italian pro-immigrant organization known as “ResQ,” Pope Francis lamented the precarious position of vulnerable migrants who are frequently subjected to exploitation, rejection, abuse, and even forced into slavery as they embark on their uncertain journeys.

Pope Francis has cited the Gospel while calling for migrants to be “welcomed, encouraged and integrated” as Europe and the United States struggle to cater to unprecedented levels of global mass migration. (Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images, left, and John Moore/Getty Images, right.)

Pope Francis speaking about migrants on Wednesday.  (AP)

“Indeed, the rescue of those in danger of sinking in miserable vessels… is a very necessary task,” the Pope said. “The action pursued by your organization aims to save lives: the lives of people fleeing from places where serious conflicts rage, often triggering humanitarian crises and also involving the violation of fundamental human rights.”

“Dear friends, keep going forward! May Mary, help[er] of migrants, assist you in your work. I bless you and I accompany you with prayer.”

It is difficult to get an exact number of the number of migrants who have left their countries of origin throughout the crisis due to a lack of comparable data in many regions in the world. The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates a record 6.5 million migrant immigrants moved to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in 2023, a jump of 10% compared to 2022.

Total net migration during the Biden administration is likely to exceed 8 million people, a recent New York Times report confirmed, citing Congressional Budget Office data. The crisis has squeezed federal, state and local finances. 

It’s not the first time the pope has called on countries to open their borders to migrants. 

Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 7, 2023, in Lukeville, Arizona.  (John Moore/Getty Images)

At a gathering in the Vatican last year, he praised an initiative that created so-called “humanitarian corridors,” for refugees to travel into Europe safely.  

“Safe, orderly, regular and sustainable migration is in the interest of all countries,” Pope Francis said. 

The Sant’Egidio Catholic charity, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Church spearheaded the ecumenical humanitarian transfer initiative in Italy, which has brought more than 6,000 people to Europe from 2016 to 2023. 

Under the program, aid workers identify asylum candidates in refugee camps and process initial paperwork to bring them into Italy on humanitarian grounds. Once they arrive, they are then provided with assistance to settle and apply for asylum.

The Catholic Church teaches that secular governments have two obligations to balance when dealing with immigration and outsiders seeking refugee status within their borders.

These duties are outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the definitive document outlining the church’s doctrines on theological and social issues.

The first duty is to “welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person,” due to the fact that human beings “have the right to immigrate and thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations.”

The second duty, based on secular governments’ obligation to care for their citizens and maintain a healthy society, is “to secure one’s border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.