Pope says high number of migrants, refugees requires dialogue

Published: 2005-01-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said the high number of migrants and refugees in the world requires dialogue to favor friendship and cultural understanding. The pope made the remarks at a Sunday blessing Jan. 16, which the church celebrates in many countries as the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. "I offer my cordial greetings to all migrants and hope that dialogue may favor the growth of sympathy and understanding among the various cultures," he said. The pope referred to his message for this year's migrants and refugees day, in which he examined the sensitive question of social integration of migrants. The papal message said integration should not be seen as "an assimilation that leads migrants to suppress or to forget their own cultural identity." Instead, the pope said, it should be a process of mutual sharing that can gradually shape societies and cultures when "valid aspects" of newcomers are accepted.

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