During a video conference, Pope Francis has called on all people to help migrants. Speaking to the migrants, he said to respect the laws of the receiving countries.
Pope Francis sent a message about migrants during a video conference, speaking to young people in Houston with the Scholas Occurrentes pontifical foundation, during his visit to the organization's Rome office. "I ask all people to help migrants, because they are the promise of life for the future. To the migrants, I ask: protect the people who receive you, respect their laws, walk as brothers in this journey of love," he said.
To Europeans, "don't forget that you're mestizos"
Pope Francis recalled that all South American people are mestizos or mixed race, and then turned to the Europeans adding: "Don't forget that you are also mestizos due to the great migrations during the time of the Barbarians and the Vikings.This isn't the time to play in an aseptic laboratory. It's the time to welcome those who arrive and to respect the laws of the people who receive," he said.
Pope Francis told the young people in Texas: "I am with you because the American bishops have told me about your suffering. I am the child of emigrants, and if it hadn't been for those people who welcomed my parents, I wouldn't be here with you today".
"Jesus was also a refugee"
The pontiff told the young people that "one of the most beautiful things is to welcome a culture that arrives from other countries, enriching oneself with dialogue, welcoming the other. This isn't something that I'm saying, but that someone else much more important than me says - God says it. The Bible is clear: receive the migrant, receive the refugee, because you were also refugees in Egypt. Even Jesus was a refugee".
In particular, to some of the young people known as "dreamers" (undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents as young children, who now face the risk of expulsion due to Trump administration decisions), the Pope said: "The first thing I say to you is that I pray for you. The second thing is, continue to dream. Grow closer to the people who care for you and want to defend you in this difficult time. Don't hate anyone".