Pope Francis recently concluded his trip dedicated to migrants with a memorable mass at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. This ceremony, which brought together tens of thousands of people, including French President Emmanuel Macron, was marked by the strong and committed words of the Holy Father in favor of welcoming migrants.
During his homily, Pope Francis denounced the “tragic rejection of human life” and called not to forget people who emigrate in difficult conditions. He underlined the duty of welcome and solidarity towards migrants, warning against fear and indifference which can lead to their exclusion.
This giant mass at the Vélodrome stadium was a highlight of this trip for Pope Francis, who also met with leaders of NGOs involved in rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean. He praised their work and called for integration rather than assimilation of migrants, in order to promote the construction of a more open and tolerant society.
Emmanuel Macron’s presence at this mass was criticized by certain left-wing elected officials, in the name of secularism, while far-right elected officials preferred to boycott the event because of the Pope’s speech on migrants. Despite these controversies, this mass brought together a diverse crowd, including Christians of different faiths, Muslims and many families and young people.
Beyond the religious dimension, this mass of Pope Francis at the Vélodrome stadium was an opportunity to highlight the importance of solidarity and welcoming migrants. It served as a reminder that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their origin or situation. This message of openness and fraternity remains more relevant than ever, while many challenges linked to migration arise in our society.