Card. Parolin calls for inclusive economy to welcome migrants

(Vatican Radio) Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Wednesday called for a more equitable global economy which can promote peace, development and human dignity for all.

The cardinal was speaking on ‘Migration in an inclusive economy’ during an international forum which is taking place here in Rome, organised by the Vatican’s new office for Integral Human Development, together with the Scalabrini International Migration Network and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

The goal of the forum is to promote creative partnerships between government agencies, international organisations and civil society groups to tackle both the integration of migrants in host countries, as well as supporting sustainable development in their countries of origin.

Philippa Hitchen reports: 

Noting that the gap between rich and poor is unacceptable in a world which has the means to provide for all people, Cardinal Parolin highlighted the links between peace, development and respect for human rights.

But he said we witness, in many places, politics driven by insecurity and fear, conflicts of interest and the violation of human rights.

Such policies, he said, lead to migratory flows of people, seen as one of the major problems facing our world today. When these people encounter obstacles and barriers, they are more likely to seek alternative routes, to be exploited and abused by human traffickers and often lose their lives in the process.

Instead of seeing this as a temporary emergency, Cardinal Parolin said, we must tackle the root causes and work together towards global solutions, sharing the responsibility for safe and sustainable migration flows.

Every state, he said, has the right to control its borders and decide who it can let in, according to the resources and welcome it can provide. But he recalled Pope Francis’ words to the diplomatic corps earlier this year when he urged governments not to see migrants simply as numbers, but to make wise and far-sighted decisions, with concrete gestures that promote peace and strive for the common good.

The cardinal also highlighted the vital contribution that migrants make to the economies and social fabric of their host countries, often showing innovation and initiative, determination, adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges. He urged host nations to protect the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable migrants, offering job flexibility, training opportunities and decent living conditions, without losing sight of the needs and interests of the poorest sectors in their own countries.