Pope Francis: A Beacon of Hope for Migrants Around the World
Diane Karla Abano, a Filipino migrant residing in Rome, vividly recalls the transformative moment when Pope Francis touched her heart during an audience in St. Peter's Square in May 2018. As he kissed her two young daughters, her feelings of hurt and pain melted away, replaced by a newfound sense of happiness and hope. "When I reached out to the pope and saw his smile, I don't know, all the hurt, all the pain that I felt changed into happiness and hope," Abano shared, her voice breaking with emotion as she showed photos of the poignant event.
In Pope Francis's eyes, Abano felt no distinction among people; she felt united, saying, "In the eyes of Pope Francis, we are not migrants; we are all the same people—not Filipino or Indian or Asian."
This week, she revisited St. Peter's Square, standing among tens of thousands of mourners to pay her respects to a leader whose brief blessing profoundly impacted her life. The pope, the son of Italian immigrants in Argentina, centered the struggles of migrants and refugees in his moral agenda throughout his 12 years as Supreme Pontiff. He personally intervened to aid asylum seekers and persistently urged governments to do more in support of vulnerable populations.
Francis's dedication to advocating for the poor and marginalized was evident in his travels and proclamations. His initial trip outside of Rome after his election in 2013 took him to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, where he honored those who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while seeking a better life in Europe. In 2016, he made a significant visit to the Greek island of Lesvos, returning to Italy with a dozen Syrian refugees on board his plane. In 2021, he flew to Cyprus to facilitate safe passage for 50 asylum seekers.
Among these fortunate individuals was Grace Enjei, a refugee from Cameroon who escaped conflict in her homeland and found herself stuck in a legal limbo within the so-called buffer zone of Cyprus. Upon learning of her situation, Vatican officials informed her that the pope had arranged for her relocation to Italy.
"We were so happy, like we were singing the whole night, we were dancing, we were celebrating. Something so, so good; it was really good. We were so happy," Enjei exclaimed. Shortly after her arrival in Italy, she received an unexpected invitation to celebrate Pope Francis's birthday, which was another emotional moment that affirmed his compassion. "He said, 'Oh, you guys are welcome! I heard about your story, and I was so touched, so I needed to do something,'" she recalled.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis continually urged political leaders to safeguard the rights of migrants, stating their safety should supersede national security concerns. In 2015, he became the first pope to address the United States Congress, where he recalled his own immigrant background and underscored the natural human impulse to cross borders in search of better opportunities for families. "Is this not what we want for our own children?" he asked.
He famously clashed with then-candidate Donald Trump over Trump's border wall proposal, making it clear, "A person who thinks only about building walls wherever they may be and not building bridges is not Christian." This critique continued into Trump's presidency, where the pope openly disagreed with policies aimed at deporting migrants.
Despite resistance from politicians and certain factions within the Church, including some parishes in Eastern Europe, Pope Francis remained a steadfast advocate for refugees. Speaking from her new home in Rome, Enjei emphasized the significant impact of the pope's actions on countless individuals, not just her. "It's not only about me. He has helped so many people, and we thank him for the fight he's fighting for migrants. We really appreciate and thank him so much," she expressed, highlighting the enduring legacy of a pontiff who fought for the dignity of all.
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