On May 3, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, together with Caritas Internationalis and its Share the Journey Campaign hosted a Conference at the United Nations entitled “Sharing the Journey of Migrants and Refugees: An Interfaith Perspective on the Global Compacts.” Speakers at the event included Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, President of Caritas Internationalis and Archbishop of Manila; Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Co-President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace; Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee; Sheikh Mohamad Abou Zaid, Senior Judge of the Sunni Family Court of Saida in Lebanon; Venerable Gijun Sugitani, Chair of Religions for Peace, Japan; and Reverend Rachel Carnegie, Co-Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance.

In his Opening Remarks introducing the event, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See situated the event within the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations and consultations toward Global Compacts on Migrants and Refugees. He emphasized Pope Francis’ call for solidarity through welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating those on the move and highlighted how faith based organizations are particularly effective in carrying out those four tasks. This flows, he said, from their focus on the dignity of each person beyond economic and political considerations. The work of faith-based organizations, he said, is crucial for refugees, migrants and also the States that are seeking to respond to them — and mention of this work, an example for all of civil society, he said, should be made in the Compacts.

His statement can be found here.