– close borders and turn away... The world will be judged by the way it has treated you.”
Similarly, Francis told those interned at the Moria refugee camp that he wanted to be with them and to hear their stories. As he departed Greece, Francis accompanied three families of refugees from the camp back to Rome for their resettlement. Two months later, nine more arrived. In these acts of hospitality, Francis revealed the embodiment of mercy by welcoming the stranger to their new home, a place of safety and refuge.
In the month that followed, he did even more to challenge us in his role as a compassionate spiritual leader. On May 26, 2016, Pope Francis was given the life jacket of a young girl who had drowned. Oscar Camps, founder of a non-profit Spanish organization that attempts to rescue migrants caught at sea, said the following when offering the life jacket to the Pope:“ Each boat-load of people has a dramatic tale to tell... families are separated, orphaned children who lost their parents along the way now find themselves in a strange country, a continent that is not their own, and no one to help them.”
Within days after his meeting with Camps, Francis spoke to a group of Italian youth while holding the girl’ s life jacket. Ann Schneible of the Catholic New Agency documented this gathering:
“ Let us think of this little girl: what was her name? I do not know: a little girl with no name,” the pontiff said, according to Vatican Radio’ s translation.“ Each of you give her the name you would like, each in his heart. She is in heaven; she is looking on us.”
As he explained the encounter with Oscar Camps, Schneible recounts:
“ He brought me this jacket,” the pontiff said...“ and with tears in his eyes he said to me,‘ Father, I couldn’ t do it – there was a little girl on the waves, and I did all I could, but I couldn’ t save her: only her life vest was left.’”
“ I do not( tell you this because I) want you to be sad, but( because) you are brave and you( should) know the truth: they are in danger – many boys and girls, small children, men, women – they are in danger,” he said.
At that same event, money for the children of Lesbos was presented to Francis from the children of a school in Vibo Marina. They signed a letter stating:
“ We children promise that we will welcome anyone who arrives in our country... we shall never consider anyone who has a different skin color, or who speaks a different language, or who professes a different religion from ours, a dangerous enemy.”
A simple yet radical act of solidarity by children. Could we sign such a letter? Would we make such a promise?
The Work of Our Hearts
Throughout the centuries, humanity has been in search for places of safety, places where human dignity is extended equally to all, regardless of language, skin color, religion and country of origin. The infancy narrative, as documented in the Gospel of Matthew, shows that the first years of the Holy Family were spent as refugees, strangers seeking sanctuary. The scriptural tale of the holy innocents is a grim reminder of how the young and vulnerable suffered and continue to live in grave danger.
Unlike the childhood game of tag where home base is easily within reach, the plight of refugees involves fleeing persecution, often moving across long expanses of rough waters and treacherous terrain. Aliens in a strange land seek places where their families can flourish, not perish. Our God tells us what we must do to love.
It is grave yet sacred work to create safety – a place where we allow others to catch their breath, find their footing, and make their own bold move away from a place of safety outward into our world. If we are to create sanctuary for others – whether it is for a new coworker, a new next-door neighbor, or literally, those seeking asylum because of the terror they face in their homeland, we must do the work of love. And the first place must be in our own hearts.
Mindful of the words of Leviticus, we must love and show care for those who are displaced for we, too, have walked as strangers – aliens – in foreign lands. Create a safe place.
Celebration is a monthly liturgical planning resource published by National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company. Contact Denise Simeone( dsimeone @ ncronline. org) for further information or for a sample subscription to Celebration. W
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