Pope Francis makes harsh statement on migrants: 'Pushbacks are a grave sin'
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics and Head of State of the Vatican, stated that there are those who systematically push back migrants using various methods, and that when done consciously and responsibly, this is a "grave sin."
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The spiritual leader of Catholics, Pope Francis, delivered messages regarding irregular migration in the Mediterranean—known in Roman times as "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea)—during his general audience held at the Vatican on Wednesday.
Pope Francis said, "Once a place of communication between peoples and civilizations, 'Our Sea' has now turned into a graveyard, and the tragedy is that many of these deaths could have been prevented and saved. It must be said clearly that there are those who systematically push back migrants using various methods, and when done consciously and responsibly, this is a grave sin."
'TODAY'S MIGRANTS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THOSE DEADLY SEAS'
The Pope also expressed that God asks them to always protect the poor, such as orphans, widows, and foreigners, adding, "We can agree on one thing: today's migrants should not have been in those deadly seas and deserts. However, we cannot achieve this result through restrictive laws, the militarization of borders, or pushbacks. We will achieve this by expanding safe and regular access routes for migrants, facilitating asylum for those fleeing wars, violence, persecution, and various disasters, and by joining forces to fight against human trafficking and stop the criminal human smugglers."
The Pope described the death of migrants in deserts and seas in an age of satellites and drones as a "cruelty of civilization."
Pope Francis emphasized that many people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, noting that they must not forget the tragedies where numerous migrants died off the coast of the island of Lampedusa and the city of Crotone.
IT BECAME A GRAVE FOR 3 THOUSAND 129 PEOPLE IN 2023
The spiritual leader of Catholics also told Poles to continue embracing Ukrainian refugees.
Pope Francis further stated that he is praying for peace in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, and Myanmar.
According to International Organization for Migration data, 3 thousand 129 people lost their lives in the Mediterranean in 2023 while trying to migrate to different countries by various boats.