Pope Francis calls for European responsibility to address the migration issue during his historic visit to Marseille. At the closing of the “Mediterranean Meetings”, the sovereign pontiff insisted on the need to manage the migratory phenomenon with compassion and solidarity. He denounced the discourse of fear and invasion that often surrounds this issue, recalling that migrants are not invaders, but people who simply seek refuge and hospitality.
This intervention by the Pope took on a particular dimension as Europe faces an unprecedented migration crisis, with the arrival of thousands of migrants on the island of Lampedusa. Pope Francis stressed that the Mediterranean risks becoming a tomb of dignity if indifference and fear continue to prevail over solidarity and welcome. He called for a surge of conscience to prevent a sinking of civilization and promote the integration of migrants based on respect for differences and the fight against discrimination.
Pope Francis also addressed the issue of poverty, which is often at the origin of migratory flows. He stressed that where there is precarity, there is crime, and called for saying no to illegality and yes to solidarity. According to him, the real social evil lies in the decline in care for the most vulnerable people in society.
By advocating European responsibility in the management of the migration issue, Pope Francis seeks to remind European leaders that solidarity and the welcome of migrants are fundamental values which are part of European identity. He warns against archaic and bellicose nationalisms which lead to withdrawal and indifference towards those in need.
Pope Francis’ visit to Marseille and his call for European responsibility in the face of the migration issue once again underline his deep commitment to the most deprived and excluded. Using his position as a spiritual leader, he seeks to raise awareness and provoke reflection on the values of solidarity and welcome that should guide our societies. An important and necessary message in a world where divisions and withdrawal are increasingly present.