Pope Dedicates 2018 World Day of Peace to Migrants, Refugees

Cross created by migrants via Kino Border Initiative

Con espíritu de misericordia, abrazamos a todos los que huyen de la guerra y del hambre, o que se ven obligados a abandonar su tierra a causa de la discriminación, la persecución, la pobreza y la degradación ambiental. -Papa Francisco

The World Day of Peace is a feast day of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to universal peace, held on 1 January, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Bl. Pope Paul VI established it in 1967, being inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope St. John XXIII and with reference to his own encyclical Populorum Progressio. The day was first observed on 1 January 1968.  (from Wikipedia)

Here is an excerpt from the message by Pope Francis at the beginning of 2018, which he dedicated to migrants and refugees worldwide.

Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees...

We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited.

Link in English     See Message in Spanish, Arabic, German, French