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ADDRESS ON WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES,
2002
Pontifical
Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
Immigration and Inter-religious Dialogue
World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2002
Msgr.
Felix A. Machado
Undersecretary
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
Many of the hundred and fifty million migrants, who are spread around
different parts of the world, have brought with them their religious
traditions. As a 'map of various religions' our world can be an
enriching experience. The multireligious character of the world
can be a source of great harmony and peace. Of course, mutual enrichment
and peace do not come about by themselves. We are only too aware
of the tensions and conflicts that exist, often intensified by the
difference of religion. There needs to be a healthy interaction
and exchange among people of different religious traditions. Mutual
enrichment, harmony and peace are fruits of dialogue. The Catholic
Church has been promoting this dialogue among religions for a long
time and the message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the World
Dayof Migrants and Refugee 2002, needs to be read in this context.
Some immigrants may just be passing through, in transit to a more
permanent destination, or perhaps hoping to return to their countries
of origin. Others have come to stay, forming stable communities.
They have left their own country and have settled down permanently
in another place, but without leaving their religion. For example,
in Italy we have immigrants from North Africa, sub Saharan Africa
and South Asia. Many of them are Muslims. There arc people from
India, among whom we meet followers of the Sikh religion. There
are Tibetans who are Buddhists and immigrants from what used to
be known as Indochina among whom many belong to the Buddhist religious
tradition.
Immigration and interreligious dialogue are sometimes spoken of
as problems in our society. In his message on the occasion of the
World Dayof Migrants andRefugees 2002 the Holy Father brings these
two together and shows how they can be opportunities for contributing
harmony and peace to the world. The phenomenon of immigration offers
occasions for Christians to engage in dialogue with people of other
religious traditions. The practice of dialogue, in turn, enables
Christians to know the immigrants justly and fairly and thus help
them integrate better into society.
Inter religious dialogue for the Catholic Church is not an abstract
idea. Remaining uncompromisingly consistent with its doctrine and
tradition the Catholic Church invites all its faithful to engage
in interreligious dialogue. This simply means to pass from distrust,
suspecion and refusal of the other to respectful acceptance. Admitting
that the way of dialogue is not an easy one, the Holy Father exhorts
Christians to engage on this path, considering it also as an aspect
of the new evangelization. The path of dialogue offers opportunities
for pastoral initiatives. The Holy Father reminds the Christian
faithful that authentic dialogue is always built on one's own testimony
of faith. The practice of interreligious dialogue presupposes honesty
and mutual trust. This is why partners in dialogue cannot hide the
obvious facts of day to day life. For example, the Holy Father does
allude to difficulties faced by Christian immigrants who do not
always enjoy religious liberty when they choose to live in countries
in which the religion of the majority is different from theirs.
The experience of many years show that interreligious dialogue can
be undertaken on different levels. The Catholic Church speaks of
four levels or forms of dialogue. They are distinct from one another
yet at the same time inter connected: 1. dialogue of life it implies
concern, respect, and hospitality towards the other; 2. dialogue
of collaboration it calls every Christian to work together with
each and all for goals of a humanitarian, social, economic, or political
nature which are directed towards the liberation and advancement
of humankind; 3. dialogue of specialists it involves confrontation,
deepening and enrichment of the respective religious heritages;
and 4. dialogue of religious experience it implies sharing one's
experience of prayer, contemplation, faith and duty, as well as
one's expressions and ways of searching for the Absolute.
In
his message on the occasion of the World Day of Migrants and of
Refugees - 2002 the Holy Father invites Christians to work mainly
through their parishes. The parish is a 'palestra' of hospitality,
says the Pope. Through these Christian communities bonds of friendship
can be built, collaboration can be undertaken for the good of society
and a culture of respect and solidarity can be promoted together
with immigrants who belong to different religious traditions.
On
the level of dialogue of life Christians, through their respective
parishes, can manifest a spirit of welcome, understanding and respect
towards immigrants and refugees. For example, on the occasion of
religious feasts of different religions, the Christian community
can organise programmes in order to exchange greetings (the President
of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends a special
message to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims for their respective festivals
of Diwali, Vesakh and Id al Fitr). It is also an occasion to understand
the deeper religious significance of a festival of a particular
religious tradition.
The Holy Father draws our attention to the dialogue of life through
the practice of Christian charity.He says, “Everyday, in many
parts of the world, migrants, refugees and displaced people turn
to Catholic organizations and parishes in search of support, and
they are welcomed irrespective of cultural or religious affiliation”(n.
4).
The dialogue of collaboration can also be promoted when Christians
can be instruments in bringing together immigrants who belong to
different religions in order to work for the good of the whole society.
Different places of worship and centres can encourage the dialogue
of spiritual experience. Friendly and fraternal relations with people
of different religions can help in acquiring sound knowledge of
different religions. This knowledge can replace prejudice, misunderstanding
and intolerance.
“Inter-religious dialogue is not opposed to the mission ad
gentes” (Redemporis Missio, 55) and, " ...true inter-religious
dialogue on the part of the Christian supposes the desire to make
Jesus Christ better known, recognized and loved...." (Dialogue
and Proclamation, n. 77). Christian communities can invite immigrants
and refugees who belong to different religious traditions to discover
Christ, the Lord and Saviour of all.The Holy Father underlines this
point when he says in n. 4:
The service of charity, which Christians are always called to carry
out, cannot be limited to the mere distribution of humanitarian
aid. In this way, new pastoral situations arise, which the Church
community cannot fail to take into consideration. It is the task
of its members to look for appropriate occasions to share with those
who are welcomed the gift of the revelation of God who is Love,
who “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son"
(Jn 3:16). With the gift of material bread, it is indispensable
not to neglect to offer the gift of faith, especially through one's
own existential witness and always with great respect for all. Welcome
and mutual openness allow people to know each other better and to
discover that the various religious traditions not rarely contain
precious seeds of truth. The dialogue that results from this can
enrich every spirit that is open to the Truth and the Good.
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“Jesus’
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