By Fr Stephan Alexander
General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR
On September 29, the Catholic Church observed the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), an annual event intended to inspire prayer, express concern and raise awareness about the challenges faced by displaced people across the globe.
On this 110th observance of WDMR, Pope Francis chose the theme God walks with his people, emphasising God’s companionship with vulnerable people on the move and underscoring the Church’s commitment to solidarity with migrants and refugees.
This year’s theme resonates deeply in a world where migration has become a common reality. Millions of people are displaced due to conflict, poverty, environmental disasters, and human rights violations.
In his message for WDMR 2024, Pope Francis called upon the global community to reflect on the biblical image of the Exodus and consider the plight of today’s migrants as they face modern forms of oppression, like the Israelites’ journey from slavery to the Promised Land.
In his message, the Pope situated migration within the broader concept of synodality – the Church as a pilgrim people, journeying together towards the Kingdom of Heaven.
Pope Francis explained that just as God accompanied the Israelites through the desert, God walks with migrants and refugees today, offering them hope and protection amid their hardships.
The Holy Father drew powerful parallels between the biblical Exodus and modern-day migration. Much like the Israelites who fled Egypt in search of freedom, today’s migrants often flee from oppression, insecurity, discrimination, and poverty. They face daunting challenges along their journeys: hunger, exhaustion, disease, and despair.
However, Pope Francis emphasises that “God precedes and accompanies his people and all his children in every time and place”, assuring us that God is present in the lives of those who are displaced.
Furthermore, the Pope highlights that encountering a migrant is not merely a social or political issue, but a profound encounter with Christ Himself. Citing Matthew 25, where Jesus says, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me,” Pope Francis urges Catholics to recognise the divine presence in every displaced person noting that every encounter with them “is an occasion charged with salvation, because Jesus is present in the sister or brother in need of our help”.
He encourages the Church to walk in solidarity with migrants and refugees, to offer them hospitality, compassion, and concrete support.
Pope Francis’ message is of particular significance to us in Trinidad and Tobago, where the Venezuelan migration crisis has become a significant social and humanitarian issue.
As of recent estimates, more than 40,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees, forced to flee their homeland in search of safety and necessities, are thought to be living in Trinidad and Tobago.
While some have managed to integrate into local communities, the majority continues to face significant challenges, including discrimination, lack of legal status, language barriers, and limited access to healthcare and education.
In the context of this crisis, Pope Francis’ call for compassion and solidarity takes on a special significance.
Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago, much like migrants in other parts of the world, are fleeing desperate situations, hoping to find safety and opportunities for a better life.
However, they often encounter hostility and marginalisation instead of hope and practical support in the form of food, shelter, legal assistance, or spiritual accompaniment.
Having observed WDMR 2024, it is important to remember that migration is not just a political issue. It is a moral and spiritual challenge that requires the global community, and particularly Catholics, to see the face of Christ in every migrant and refugee.
In doing so, we are called to respond not with fear or indifference, but with open hearts and hands, offering hospitality and support to those in need.
Pope Francis’ call to “walk together with migrants” offers a timely reminder of our shared humanity. In the words of the Holy Father, the Church must be a “field hospital” for the suffering, offering healing and hope to those displaced by conflict, persecution, and poverty.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the Venezuelan migrant crisis presents an urgent opportunity for the Church and society at large to live out this calling.
By recognising that God walks with His people, particularly those who are most vulnerable, we are challenged to open our hearts and communities to those who seek refuge among us.
Whether through advocacy, charitable action, prayer, or simply offering a listening ear, we are invited to walk this journey of faith and solidarity, knowing that in every encounter with a migrant, we encounter Christ Himself.
Let us heed the Pope’s words and embrace this journey, confident that as we accompany our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters, God walks with us, too.
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