Article: “Pope Francis in Marseille: a call for unity and solidarity with migrants”
The sovereign pontiff, Pope Francis, begins a two-day visit to Marseille today. This visit is of particular importance in a context where debates on the migration crisis are raging in Europe. Pope Francis chose Marseille, a cosmopolitan city where different communities and religions coexist, to denounce the tragedies of migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean and to plead in favor of exiles.
Pope Francis is known for his commitment to the most vulnerable and excluded in society. Since his election in 2013, he has continued to denounce the speeches of rejection and the policies of closure. His visit to Marseille comes a few days after the arrival of thousands of migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa, which pushed the European Union to adopt an emergency plan to manage migratory flows from North Africa .
Crossing the Mediterranean is considered the most dangerous route in the world. Since 2014, more than 28,000 people who tried to reach Europe have disappeared at sea, according to the International Organization for Migration. Pope Francis describes this situation as “the largest cemetery in the world” and seeks to raise public awareness of this humanitarian tragedy.
Pope Francis’ visit to Marseille also marks a historic event, as it is the first time in 500 years that a pope has visited this city. In France, this visit arouses mixed reactions, with the right criticizing the political interference of the sovereign pontiff and accusing him of getting too involved in the migration issue. However, despite the decline of Catholicism in France, the visit is highly anticipated, with tens of thousands of faithful expected for the giant mass which will take place at the Stade Vélodrome.
This visit by Pope Francis will close the third edition of the Mediterranean Meetings, which addresses themes such as economic inequalities, interreligious dialogue and global warming. These subjects are dear to Pope Francis, who has a particular interest in the Mediterranean basin because of its many socio-economic and political challenges.
In conclusion, Pope Francis’ visit to Marseille is a call for unity and solidarity towards migrants. The sovereign pontiff intends to denounce the tragedies of the shipwrecks in the Mediterranean and to plead in favor of the exiles. This historic visit also marks a desire to promote interreligious dialogue and raise public awareness on the major social and environmental issues of our time.