Join Pope Francis’ migration awareness drive, Church urged

Caritas Internationalis president Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged parishes and church groups to join Pope Francis in introducing to the world a global migration campaign on September 27. (Photo: Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle/Facebook)

MANILA — Caritas Internationalis president Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged parishes and church groups to join Pope Francis in introducing to the world a global migration campaign on September 27.

In a statement Monday, the head of the Archdiocese of Manila said the Holy Father will launch the event dubbed as ‘Share the Journey’, which “aims to promote the culture of encounter in communities where migrants and refugees leave and return to, where they travel through and where they choose to make their homes.”

“Through the Share the Journey we hope to dispel fear and understand why so many people are leaving their homes at this time in history. We also want to inspire communities to build relations with refugees and migrants,” Tagle said.

In Manila, the launching of the campaign will be held at the Adamson University in Manila at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday (10:30 a.m. Rome time).

“Our campaign gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves and others of certain truths. The Church is called to exercise the hospitality of God towards migrants and refugees,” Tagle said.

“We invite all of your parish, diocesan and national organizations to accompany Pope Francis by launching our global campaign in your countries on this same day,” he added.

The campaign will run, at least, until 2019 with the more than 160 Caritas members around the world sponsoring events and opportunities for migrants and members of host communities to meet and share their stories.

The event will also be bolstered by support from ACT Alliance, a coalition of 146 churches and faith-based organizations worldwide and a variety of other religious congregations and civil society groups.

“This time of greater interconnection is an invitation to each and every one of us to look at how we can be more united. I hope the global migration and refugee situation will lead the whole world in a corporate examination of consciousness and our value systems,” Tagle said.

Aside from the Philippines, Caritas members and supporters are expected to launch actions in their countries and communities around the world.