INBOX INSPIRATIONS
February 19, 2025
Pope Francis on Immigration – 1
Dear Friends,
On February 10, just over a week ago, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the Bishops of the United States of America. The topic: immigration. Obviously, this issue is very much in the forefront in our country and in much of the world. Ever since his election as Pope in 2013, Francis has expressed his deep, even passionate concern for refugees and immigrants. I want to share a few excerpts from the Pope’s very recent letter.
Francis begins by laying out his concern and its spiritual basis.
“The journey from slavery to freedom that the People of Israel traveled, as narrated in the Book of Exodus, invites us to look at the reality of our time, so clearly marked by the phenomenon of migration, as a decisive moment in history to reaffirm not only our faith in a God who is always close, incarnate, migrant and refugee, but also the infinite and transcendent dignity of every human person.”
Pope Francis reaches back almost seventy years and quotes the words of Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution on the Care of Migrants.
“The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.”
Pope Francis then continues with his own reflections.
“In fact, when we speak of ‘infinite and transcendent dignity,’ we wish to emphasize that the most decisive value possessed by the human person surpasses and sustains every other juridical consideration that can be made to regulate life in society. Thus, all the Christian faithful and people of good will are called upon to consider the legitimacy of norms and public policies in the light of the dignity of the person and his or her fundamental rights...”
I will share more of Pope Francis’ letter in next week’s Inbox Inspirations. Immigration is an international and even global issue. I believe that, in trying to address this, we must take account of the perspective of the gospel and our Catholic moral tradition.
Fr. Michael Schleupner
February 26, 2025
Pope Francis on Immigration – 2
Dear Friends,
Today I am sharing some more excerpts from Pope Francis’ recent letter to our American bishops on immigration.
The Holy Father is aware that this is a multi-faceted issue. He expresses concerns for both immigrants and for the protection of the society/country into which they are entering or have entered.
“The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some immigrants with criminality. At the same time, one must recognize the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival.”
Here I want to inject my own personal thought. Contrary to some public statements that have been made and some opinions that have been expressed to me, the Pope and the American bishops show a balance on this issue. But they still express the concern of Jesus Christ for the “stranger” – “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…For I was…a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:34-35). In today’s world, Jesus’ word “stranger” must include refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Jesus says that when we care for them, we care for him. It is that clear.
We can also see Pope Francis taking account of both respect for law and care for the immigrant.
“This is not a minor issue: an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized. The true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all…welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable. This does not impede the development of a policy that regulates orderly and legal migration.”
Toward the end of his letter, Pope Francis speaks to all of us.
“I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters. With charity and clarity we are all called to live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy and to learn to give our lives as Jesus Christ gave his for the salvation of all.”
Fr. Michael Schleupner
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