“Forced like Jesus Christ to
flee” – theme of World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2020
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| Pope Francis meets a group of migrants in the Vatican (AFP) |
Pope Francis releases the theme for the 2020 World Day of
Migrants and Refugees, which focuses on the need for the pastoral care of
internally displaced persons.
By Vatican News
The Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees
this year is focussing on the pastoral care of internally displaced persons
(IDPs), who currently number over 41 million worldwide.
“Forced like Jesus Christ to flee” is the theme that
Pope Francis chose for the 106th edition of the day this year,
which will be marked on Sunday, 27 September, according to a statement
released on Friday by the Holy See Press Office.
“As the title makes clear, the reflection begins with the
experience of the young Jesus and his family as displaced persons and
refugees,” the Press Office said. “This provides a Christological grounding for
the Christian action of welcome or hospitality.”
In the coming months, the theme will be developed in six
sub-themes expressed by six pairs of verbs: to know in order to understand; to
draw near so as to serve; to listen in order to reconcile; to share and thus to
grow; to involve in order to promote; and finally, to collaborate and therefore
to build.
The Migrants & Refugees Section of the Vatican Dicastery
for Promoting Integral Human Development will encourage, prepare and support
the celebration of this day.
Resources are being developed and a communication campaign
will soon get underway. Each month, information, reflections, and multimedia
aids will be offered as means of exploring and expressing the theme chosen this
year by the Holy Father.
Origins
The origins of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees can be
traced back to 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Touched
by the drama of millions of Italians who had migrated abroad since the
beginning of the 20th century, Pope Pius X called on all Christians to pray for
migrants.
A few months later, his successor Pope Benedict XV
instituted the Day of the Migrant to support spiritually and economically the
pastoral work for Italian emigrants.
In 1952, Migrant Day took on a broader and more
international character and the particular Churches were called upon to choose
a date to celebrate the day during the liturgical year.
St. John Paul II was the first pontiff to issue, since 1985,
a message each year drawing attention to some of the specific realities and
difficulties of people on the move, calling the Church to action.
In 2004, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant People extended the day to refugees calling it the World
Day of Migrants and Refugees.
At the behest of St. John Paul II, since 2005, the World Day
of Migrants and Refugees has been celebrated by the Universal Church on the 2nd
Sunday after the Epiphany.
On the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 14,
2018, Pope Francis announced the change in the date of celebration which will
be the last Sunday of September.
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