Wojciech Rogacin – Vatican
The Pope added that migrants, once they arrive in a country, cannot be treated like animals – Vatican News reports.
Spanish-speaking journalists asked the Pope for his opinion on migration. Leo XIV indicated that this is a global phenomenon, not just concerning Europe. „Therefore, my answer begins with a question: what is the global North doing to help the global South or those countries where young people today find no future and therefore live with the dream of going to the North?”
The Pope pointed out that often the rich North has no answer on how to create opportunities for migrants.
I am not saying that everyone can arrive without order
The Pope also pointed to the suffering of migrants, to human trafficking. „Personally, I believe that a state has the right to establish rules at its borders. I am not saying that everyone should arrive without any order, sometimes creating situations in destination places that are more unjust than those they left” – he indicated. „But still I ask: what are we doing in richer countries to change the situation in poorer countries? Why can’t we – both through state aid and investments by large, wealthy companies and international corporations – change the situation in countries like those we visited during this trip?” – asked the Holy Father.
People are not animals. Respect is due
He added that Africa is seen by many as a place from which minerals and wealth can be taken for the benefit of other countries. He called for promoting justice, equality, and development in these African countries so that there would be no need to emigrate to other states.
„And the second point I would like to make: in any case, these are human beings, and we must treat people humanely, and not often worse than animals” – emphasized Leo XIV.
„A state can say that it cannot accept more than a certain number of people, but when people arrive, they are human beings and deserve the respect due to every human being because of their dignity” – added the Holy Father.
