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Week of December 4, 2017

Papal Video Message on Migration

During the opening ceremony of the preparatory (stocktaking) meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on 4 December 2017, the Holy Father delivered a recorded video message in which he invites everyone, individually and collectively, “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate” migrants and refugees as part of a global common response. At the end of his message, he turned his attention to the Global Compacts on Migration and on Refugees and called on those working on the Global Compacts to be inspired by “compassion, foresight and courage.”
 
The video message was shown for the first time at the stocktaking meeting. It is, however, meant as a proposal for addressing the situation of migrants and refugees beyond the discussion at the United Nations. The video can be found here.

 


Statements


This week, Archbishop Auza delivered 3 statements at the preparatory (stocktaking) meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from 4-6 December 2017.

 

The Holy See's delegation to the preparatory meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration consisted of (pictured left to right): Msgr. Kevin Randall from the Nunciature in Mexico and a priest from the Diocese of Norwich CT;  Archbishop Bernardito Auza, head of delegation and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN; Timothy Herrmann, attaché and negotiator of the Holy See’s Mission to the UN; and Fr. Michael Czerny, SJ, co-undersecretary of the Section for Refugees and Migrants in the new Vatican dicastery for Promoting of Integral Human Development.

 

 

Retrospective Session:
Looking back on Phase I

Preparatory Process towards the
Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration


On December 4, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Head of Delegation to the Stocktaking Meeting of the Preparatory Process towards the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration taking place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,  gave an intervention during the Meeting’s first panel, entitled “Retrospective Session: Looking Back on Phase I."

In his intervention, Archbishop Auza said that the informal thematic debates of this phase have led to clarity on how migration is a common, natural and human response to crisis and to desire for a better life, how the upcoming Global Compact needs to establish a comprehensive international framework featuring international cooperation and shared responsibility, and that strong consideration must be given to bilateral, regional and international agreements and processes, taking advantage of the expertise of institutions like the International Organization of Migration and civil society organizations, including faith-based ones. He shared Pope Francis’ framework that migrants must be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated and described how each of those four elements are key toward the successful negotiation of an effective global framework.  

His statement can be found here.

 


Follow up and Implementation

Preparatory Process towards the
Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

 

On December 6, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Head of Delegation to the Stocktaking Meeting of the Preparatory Process towards the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration taking place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,  gave an intervention during the panel of the meeting dedicated to the theme, “Follow-up and Implementation Session: Towards a Coherent Institutional Architecture and Effective Partnerships.
 
In his statement, Archbishop Auza said the success of any Global Compact on migration will depend on a robust framework of follow-up and review incorporated into the Compact. He emphasized that such a follow-up framework should take advantage of existing national, bilateral and regional participatory mechanisms as well as the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Global Forum for Migration and Development. It should also involve a commitment to collect accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data as well as a financing mechanism for host countries that lack the necessary resources. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should guide the follow-up framework.

The statement can be found here.

 


Concluding Session
“Towards a Coherent Institutional Architecture and Effective Partnerships

Preparatory Process towards the
Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

 
On December 6, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Head of Delegation to the Stocktaking Meeting of the Preparatory Process towards the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration taking place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, gave an intervention during the concluding session of the Meeting dedicated to the theme, “Towards a Coherent Institutional Architecture and Effective Partnerships.”
 
In the Concluding Session, dedicated to the theme, “Towards a Coherent Institutional Architecture and Effective Partnerships,” Archbishop Auza said that the immediate remedies employed during the height of the refugee and migration crisis cannot necessarily serve as the framework for a Compact on migration. Sustainable solutions that respect the human rights of migrants and the development and security concerns of countries of origin, transit and destination must be found for the short, medium and long-term. Short-term approaches require prudence and responsibility on the part of both the migrant and the countries of destination, transit and eventual return. In the medium term, it’s necessary to recognize migration as a right and to increase regular pathways for migration and return. In the long-term, the Compact must respect, he said, the prior right of all to remain in their countries of origin in peace and security; this means working for development, peace and security, for stable democratic institutions and good governance, for the defense of human rights and access to justice.

The statement can be found here.
 

 

Responding to Refugees and Migrants:
20 Action Points

In anticipation of the United Nations' Global Compacts on Refugees and Safe, Orderly and Regular migration, the the Vatican’s Section on Migrants & Refugees (part of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development), consulted with various Bishops’ Conferences and Catholic NGOs working in the field to prepare the following Twenty Action Points, which have been approved by the Holy Father.

The Holy See has submitted these 20 Action Points to the UN to share practical considerations in responding to the needs of migrants and refugees at the grassroots level where the Catholic Church has extensive experience, in hopes that Catholic organizations and other advocates may use, add to and develop them in their dialogue with governments towards the Global Compacts.

The document states: "The 20 Points advocate effective and proven measures which together constitute an integral response to the current challenges. In accordance with Pope Francis’s teaching, the points are grouped under four headings: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate. Each is an active verb and a call to action."

The document can be found here.

 

Holy See in the News

Preserving Pluralism and Diversity
in the Nineveh Region

On November 30, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN, together with the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee (NRC) and the Knights of Columbus, organized a side event entitled “Preserving Pluralism and Diversity in the Nineveh Region” at UN Headquarters to discuss the importance of resettling Christians and other religious minorities persecuted by ISIS in the Nineveh Plains of Iraq, as well as the obstacles keeping the displaced from returning home.  The event was covered by multiple news organizations.

Crux: Iraqi Christians tell UN Christian presence is key to regional stability
 
Aleteia: Christians trying to return home face new obstacle in Kurdish conflict with Iraqi forces

America Magazine: These Christians returned home to Ninevah after surviving ISIS. Now they face a new threat.

Catholic News Agency: Archbishop to UN: Christians are critical to Iraq’s future