“The migrant’s family” is “a place and a resource of the culture of life and a factor of integration of values". This is why, with a view to "its harmonious development", it must be supported by offering it "a real opportunity to fit" into society. This was written by Benedict XVI, in his Message for the 94th World Migrant and Refugee Day, which falls on January 14th 2007, about "The migrant family". In his message, published today, the Pope lingered on the "hardships, the difficulties and the weakness" of millions of migrants, refugees and their families, likened to the "Family of Nazareth, forced to take shelter in Egypt". In its drama, commented the Pontiff, "we get a glance of the painful condition of all migrants”. In recalling that the chosen topic follows in the footsteps of those of 1980, 1986 and 1993, Benedict XVI dwelt on the risks of "breaking the original ties" of the family due to "to the distance existing between its members and the missed reunion”, and on the difficult situation of women, who quite often "fall prey of the trade of human beings and prostitution”. Hence his encouragement to "ratify international legal instruments to defend the rights of the migrants” and “their families”. (to be continued)
