Migrants should not be perceived as an issue and require unity among communities
In a passionate speech during a pilgrimage dedicated to migrants in Fátima, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília, the Spanish archbishop, emphasised that welcoming migrants is not a political choice but an evangelical requirement.
"Acolher migrantes não é uma opção política, é uma exigência evangélica," he stated, highlighting the importance he places on human dignity and compassion, rooted in religious principles, rather than viewing migration through a political or security lens.
The pilgrimage, known as the pilgrimage of the emigrants, brought together approximately 60,000 pilgrims, who participated in religious ceremonies, a mass, and a farewell procession. During the event, Vives i Sicília related the relevance of the message of the Virgin of Fatima (peace, hope) to the current state of the world, still wounded by wars, divisions, hunger, and the tragedy of many migrants.
The emeritus archbishop believes that welcoming migrants is an evangelical requirement and a defense of human dignity. He recalled Pope Francis' words, emphasising "welcome, protect, promote, and integrate" as the Christian attitude towards migration. Vives i Sicília challenged the faithful to defend the human rights of migrants, including the right to leave their country and the right to be treated with dignity.
Portuguese history, marked by a long history of emigration, adds a personal touch to Vives i Sicília's advocacy. He urged that the true faith leads to building bridges, not walls, and to always extend a hand, not close our eyes. He emphasised that migrants are seeking peace, work, security, and a better future.
Vives i Sicília's phrase "bridges not walls" aligns with the message of building understanding, solidarity, and connection instead of barriers or exclusion. His approach clearly focuses on migrant human rights and compassion, which fits with advocating for bridges metaphorically instead of walls.
While there are no direct quotes about "human rights" or detailed policy proposals in the search results related specifically to Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília, the emphasis on the evangelical requirement implicitly supports the respect for human rights and dignity of migrants.
In summary, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília advocates for migrants' reception as a religious and moral imperative framed within human dignity — viewing it as a non-negotiable evangelical duty rather than political debate, underscoring the necessity of opening hearts and borders as building bridges rather than walls.
- The emeritus archbishop, Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília, has emphasized the need for "bridges, not walls" in addressing migration, suggesting a focus on building understanding, solidarity, and connection rather than barriers or exclusion.
- His stance on migration policies leans towards advocating for a respectful reception of migrants, rooted in the perception that it is an evangelical requirement for the defense of human dignity and the pursuit of human rights, rather than a political debate.