Solidarity with migrant families at the Synod

“As the Pope said recently in the United States, Europe, America and Australia –the developed world should not be afraid of migrants,” says the Eritrean Archbishop of Asmara.

The Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Asmara in Eritrea, Menghesteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I. has said that as he attends the Synod on the family, in the Vatican, his thoughts are not only with families in Eritrea but also with many migrant families from Africa and in particular Eritrea now in living in Europe, America and Australia. He says the developed world should not be afraid of migrants.

“As the Pope said recently in the United States, Europe, America and Australia –the developed world should not be afraid of migrants. As countries built on Christian traditions, these nations should instead help migrant families live Christian lives in the best way possible. African families, very religious… they come to Europe and they find a lot of materialism, a lot of indifference, relativism and that is a big challenge for our families. They need special pastoral care from priests, Bishops and other Christian families in Europe so that they can maintain the values that they bring with them from Africa,” Archbishop Menghesteab told the Africa Service of Vatican Radio.

With regard to the challenges of families being discussed during the first week of the Synod of Bishops, the Archbishop of Asmara said he believes that the family as an institution needs protection so that members would be empowered to preserve their faith and make good decisions in their daily lives -decisions that maintain the cohesiveness of the family unit. The Archbishop of Asmara says that he feels encouraged so far that there seems to be willingness among Bishops at the Synod to listen and possibly lend their solidarity to issues facing African migrants and their families.

“We hope at the end, we will come up with a good list of propositions and initiatives that will go towards strengthening the Christian faith of our families as well as Christian love in our families,” Archbishop Menghesteab said.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo)

e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va

Listen to an extract of Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam as he talks to Fr. Paul of Vatican Radio