“May our communities become islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Pope Francis
Pope Francis has launched a global campaign to promote the rights of refugees and migrants. Titled “Share the Journey” the campaign encourages everyone to speak to a refugee or migrant and to learn more about their story.
Pope Francis is also speaking to governments.
“He is urging all nations to improve their role in the protection of the world’s 22 million current refugees and to simplify their visa application processes,” said Caritas Australia CEO, Mr Paul O’Callaghan.
“He wants to see families re-unified wherever possible and to show a spirit of generosity and compassion to those who have lost so much.”
“Migrants are our brothers and sisters in search of a better life, far away from poverty, hunger, exploitation and the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources which are meant to be equitably shared by all,” said Pope Francis on Migrant Day, 2016.
The Pope’s call for change comes as the global Caritas network responds to 400,000 refugees who have fled violence in Rakhine state in Myanmar and crossed into neighbouring Bangladesh.
Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, CSC, Archbishop of Dhaka said: “Bangladesh has not only opened the borders, but we have also opened our hearts with love and compassion to the children, women, old, the sick, the wounded and even the thousands who are unborn.”
Thirty-eight-year-old Dilda Begum, who fled Myanmar for Bangladesh said she didn’t bring a thing.
”I just grabbed the children and ran,” she said.
“We had to pay 10,000 taka (approx. AU$156) for the boat to cross into Bangladesh.”
Her two sons lie on the floor of their tent in Kutupalong refugee camp, gripped with fever, after the long journey.
The global Caritas confederation recently launched an Emergency Appeal to meet the needs of the newly-arrived Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
Find out more about the #Sharejourney campaign at www.caritas.org.au/sharejourney
Photo credit: Rohingya refugee Mohamed Alamgir 27 lies with his sick 1 year old daughter Sumaya a day after arriving in the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh. Photo Tommy Trenchard
