Migration is one of the most important and determining phenomena of contemporary life; it’s impressive and has a permanent character due to unavoidable economic needs. This phenomenon has been present since ancient times. Exoduses and flows have been an integral part of history and determinants of it. Understanding migration as a fundamental human experience that can foster diverse socio-cultural and economic developments has helped the catholic social teaching to see this phenomenon as an opportunity to build community and approach the neighbor with love.
Over the millennia, people have been “on the move,”[1] moving from one place to another for multiple reasons, some move out of curiosity to discover foreign places. Others seek refuge from conflict. Many others had been forced to move due to the despair that produces starvation, poverty, and persecution. There are 169 million [2] people on the move today, seeking new and better life opportunities out of love for their loved ones. This particular category of people, “labour migrants,”[3] is the key feature of the most significant remittance inflows in Southeast Asia. They represent a fundamental “right”[4] that cannot be abolished. Hence, the socio-political structure must ensure the freedom to emigrate, but not the freedom to “make emigrate,” a cause of speculation and mistreatment.[5]
The Philippines, a nation renowned for its resilience spirit, has experienced significant exodus of people seeking a better future. In the country’s context of the migration flow, the term “Overseas Filipino Workers”[6] is significant as well as meaningful. Last year, 2,613,903 Filipinos apply for work overseas.[7] These modern-day heroes have sacrificed immensely to provide for their families. Their unwavering dedication is a testament to the Filipino people’s indomitable spirit and their unwavering commitment to their loved ones.
The theme for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, “God walks with His people,” resonates deeply with the plight of millions of individuals who have left their homes in search of better opportunities. It offers a message of hope and solidarity, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, faith can guide us through challenging times. As Pope Francis reminds us, all of us, God’s people, are migrants on this earth, journeying towards our true homeland, the Kingdom of Heaven. Migrants, a contemporary icon of this people on a journey, offer us a unique opportunity to encounter the Lord who walks with us.[8]
In his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis expresses concern for the vulnerable people on the move, urging us to pray for them and increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers in society.[9] To care for migrants, we must embrace the four verbs that Pope Francis consistently invites us to: welcome, promote, integrate, and protect.[10] Pope Francis urges, we must respond to the needs of migrants with compassion and care. This involves welcoming them, promoting their integration, protecting their rights, and fostering a culture of inclusion.
St. John Baptist Scalabrini, the father to migrants, offers valuable insights into how we can care for these individuals on the move. His charism emphasizes the importance of providing spiritual and material assistance to migrants. He reminds us that for the migrants, the place that provides the bread becomes their country.[11] By welcoming migrants and providing them with the necessary resources, we are fulfilling our Christian duty to love our neighbor.
However, it is essential to avoid discrimination, nationalism, or selectivity in our pastoral practices. We are all members of one universal Church, united by our shared faith in Christ. Hence, it is imperative to embrace the diversity of God’s people and to cultivate an intercultural, rather than merely multicultural, pastoral approach. To care for migrants means to appreciate their values and culture while also helping them to integrate into their new communities. To cultivate a truly intercultural approach, we must go beyond mere tolerance and strive to understand and appreciate the unique values and cultures of migrants. This requires a commitment to dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect. By engaging with migrants on a personal level, we can learn from their experiences, challenge our own biases, and foster a sense of belonging. This approach not only benefits migrants but also enriches our own communities, as we are exposed to new perspectives and ways of life.
The phrase “God walks with His people” reminds us that migration is not an individual experience. It is a collective journey, shaped by shared hopes, challenges, and faith. By walking together with God and with one another, we can create a more welcoming and inclusive world for all.
[1] People on the move are: migrants, exiles, refugees, displaced people, fishermen and seafarers, air travelers, road transport workers, nomads, circus people, fairground workers, pilgrims and tourists, as well as those categories of people who, for various reasons, are involved in human mobility, such as students abroad, and operators and technicians engaged in large projects or scientific research at the international level who are obliged to move from one country to another. (Cf. Pontifical Council for the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant people )
[2] 169 million labour migrants according WMR-2022 of IMO. Available at IMO
[3] Cf. “Key Migration Terms,” International Organization for Migration, accessed October 29, 2022, Available at IOM.int
[4] Cf. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted 10 December 1948) UNGA Res 217(A), Art. 13
[5] The Scalabrinian Congregations, “Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini: A living voice - Excerpts from his writings 1987-”, (United States, The missionaries of St. Charles, 2007), pg. 375.
[6] Common know in the Philippines society as OFWs. According to the Philippines Statistics Authority, an overseas worker is a household member who is currently out of the country due to overseas employment. He/she may or may not have a specific work contract or may be presently at home on vacation but has an existing overseas employment to return to. Undocumented overseas workers are considered as overseas workers for as long as they are still considered members of the household and had been away for less than five years.
[7] Cf. DMW Annual Report 2023
[8] Message of his Holiness Pope Francis for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2024. Available at Vatican.va
[9] Ibid.
[10] Message of his Holiness Pope Francis for the 104th World day of Migrants and Refugees 2018 [14 January 2018] Available at Vatican.va
[11] Cf. St. John Baptist Scalabrini, L’emigrazione italiana in America, Piacenza 1887.
