” “” “"Dear young migrants, get ready to build along with your peers a fairer and more fraternal society, by carefully and seriously fulfilling your duties to your families and to the State. Be respectful of the laws and never let yourselves be swept away by hatred and violence. Rather, try to play a leading role from now on in a world in which understanding and solidarity, justice and peace will reign". This is the appeal made by Benedict XVI to the "young migrants", the subjects and recipients of the message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees of 2008 (falling on January 13th), which has been disclosed today by the Newsroom of the Holy See. From their native countries, commented the Pope, "often the brightest young people go away, while the recipient countries apply regulations that make their inclusion difficult". Benedict XVI noticed the "difficulty of the double belonging" that is experienced by young migrants: "on one side, they deeply feel the need not to miss out on their native culture", on the other side they show an "understandable desire to fully fit in with the society that receives them, without this involving however a full assimilation and the attendant loss of their ancestral traditions". (continued)” “” “
