The Council of the Polish Episcopate for Migration and Pilgrimages: “Let us have the courage to express our assurance of solidarity and readiness to help”

A humane and evangelical response to the problems of migrants and refugees must never be restricted or suspended by any jurisdiction. Hospitality towards a foreigner is one of the indicators of our faith – wrote the chairman of the Council of the Polish Episcopate for Migration and Pilgrimages, Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko, in the communiqué on refugees who are reaching Poland.

The press release drew attention to the worrying situation on the eastern border, where people from different countries are trying to enter Poland through Belarus. “We are aware of the complexity of geopolitical conditions that trigger the current migration processes. We are convinced that those responsible for complying with the law will fully respect international obligations towards people seeking protection, including the right to submit an application for international protection,” says the document.

“It is commonly accepted that States have the right to take measures against irregular immigration, with due respect for the human rights of all. At the same time, it is necessary to keep in mind the essential difference between individuals fleeing political, religious, ethnic, or other kinds of persecution and wars and those who are simply seeking to enter a country irregularly and emigrate simply to improve their position,” emphasized the authors.

The document also emphasizes the Church’s teaching and the role of Christians, who have the task of recognizing and welcoming Christ in the stranger. “Indifference is not an authentically Christian attitude. Let us kindle the imagination of mercy, which will allow us to join in helping those who need it, thus undertaking the mission of the Good Samaritan,” says the text.

When looking for solutions to complicated migration problems, politicians and media workers were called upon to be guided above all by the attitudes of hospitality, respect for newcomers, and the common good of all Poles. “Understandable concern for one’s own citizens cannot be a sufficient premise to justify closing borders to those seeking refuge. (…) Fueling aversion and hostility towards foreigners who are in a tragic situation is a wicked act. (…) No media coverage, covering even the most difficult matters, can lead to contempt for migrants. (…) On the contrary, the emerging doubts and fears should be dispelled by real information, dialogue, and authentic testimony,” we read in the document.

“Human dramas cannot become an instrument for stirring up xenophobic moods, especially those aroused in the name of falsely understood patriotism that degrades people coming from a different region of the world, culture, or religion. It is inhuman and non-Christian to fear others. Our ancestors were migrants and refugees during the partitions, during World War II, and during the years of communism. They were helped by people of other cultures and religions. Denying newcomers their fundamental rights means turning away from our own history and contradicting our Christian heritage,” stressed the communique.

Finally, the Council expressed its gratitude to the local communities, parishes, and aid organizations that assist migrants and refugees. It also made an appeal for material help and prayers to eliminate the causes of migration, wars, and social injustice, persecution, and hunger.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Translation: P. Nau / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

We are publishing the full text of the communique:

Statement of the Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
for Migration, Tourism and Pilgrimages
on Refugees Reaching Poland

1. Migrants have become part of our everyday reality also in Poland. In this situation, the wisdom of faith strengthens our conviction that we all belong to “one family of both migrants and local communities that welcome them; and we all have the same right to use the goods of the earth, intended for all. Solidarity and sharing are built on this very basis. From this comes a love that makes us sensitive to the needs of others as just as we feel our own, so that we share our goods with others and strive to increase the communion of spiritual values in the world” (cf. Benedict XVI, Message for the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2013). We should also recall here the voice of Pope Francis on the 104^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees: “Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age” (cf. Mt 25:35–43).

St. John Paul II, a Defender of the rights of refugees and immigrants, wrote in one of his Messages for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees: “Jesus’ demanding assertion: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ (Mt 25:35) retains its power in all circumstances and challenges the conscience of those who intend to follow in his footsteps” (1997). A humane and evangelical response to the problems of migrants and refugees must never be restricted or suspended by any jurisdiction, even in the most complex situation, does not invalidate this imperative. Hospitality towards a foreigner is—as St. John Paul II recalled— one of the indicators of our faith: “Catholicity is not only expressed in the fraternal communion of the baptized, but also in the hospitality extended to the stranger, whatever his religious belief, in the rejection of all racial exclusion or discrimination, in the recognition of the personal dignity of every man and woman and, consequently, in the commitment to furthering their inalienable rights” (Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 1999).

2. “It is commonly accepted that States have the right to take measures against irregular immigration, with due respect for the human rights of all. At the same time, it is necessary to keep in mind the essential difference between individuals fleeing political, religious, ethnic, or other kinds of persecution and wars and those who are simply seeking to enter a country irregularly and emigrate simply to improve their position (cf. Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People – Pontifical Council “Cor unum,” Welcoming Christ Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons. Pastoral Guidelines, 57).
3. Recently, we are dealing with a worrying situation on our eastern border, where people from different countries are trying to enter Poland through Belarus. These are consequences often provoked by political causes, such as the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere that force many people fearing for their own security to leave. We are aware of the complexity of geopolitical conditions that trigger the current migration processes.

We are convinced that those responsible for complying with the law will fully respect international obligations towards people seeking protection, including the right to apply for international protection.

Border Guard officers, who are facing the difficult challenge of state border protection, should be able to refer persons crossing the border to centers for foreigners. The State’s support is also called for by the activity of organizations supporting refugees, which has been limited in recent years.

Catholics must bear in mind the teaching, valid from the beginning of the Church, that the task of recognizing and welcoming Christ in the stranger. Indifference is not an authentically Christian attitude. Let us kindle the imagination of mercy, which will allow us to join in helping those who need it, thus undertaking the mission of the Good Samaritan. We ask all people of good will—regardless of their religious affiliation—to show solidarity with the war refugees who come to us, people who are persecuted or suffering from poverty. Echoing Pope Francis’s words, we appeal to everyone: “It is not just about migrants: it is about our humanity” (Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2019).

4. In a situation of tension, particular responsibility rests with politicians and the media. We ask the representatives of all political forces that when they look for solutions to complicated migration problems, they let themselves be guided above all by the attitudes of hospitality, respect for newcomers, and the common good of all Poles. Understandable concern for one’s own citizens cannot be a sufficient premise to justify closing borders to those seeking refuge.

The media should build a culture of encounter and avoid spreading prejudice and creating a harmful atmosphere, so we ask journalists and reporters to reliably report on the situation of refugees and immigrants. Fueling aversion and hostility towards foreigners who are in a tragic situation is a wicked act. Anti-refugee or anti-immigration narratives have an impact on the lives of real people. They are also devastating for any attempt to act responsibly, for community-based reflection on how to respond to complex migration problems. No media coverage covering even the most difficult matters can lead to contempt for the migrant. “They are our brothers and sisters in humanity and to deserve to be helped in finding a place where they can live with dignity and contribute to building the civil society.” Doubts and fears that arise should, on the contrary, be dispelled by true information, dialogue, and authentic testimony. Human dramas cannot become an instrument for stirring up xenophobic moods, especially those aroused in the name of falsely understood patriotism that degrades people coming from a different region of the world, culture, or religion. It is inhuman and non-Christian to fear others.

Our ancestors were migrants and refugees during the partitions, during World War II, and during the years of communism. They were helped by people of other cultures and religions. Denying newcomers their fundamental rights means turning away from our own history and contradicting our Christian heritage.

We are all urged to promote in our communities “a positive narrative on migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees and the solidarity towards them” (Responding to Refugees and Migrants. Twenty Points of Pastoral Activity, 2017). Let us have the courage to express our assurance of solidarity and readiness to help those seeking refuge in our country.

5. We wish to express our gratitude to the local communities, parishes, and aid organizations that have already rushed to show kindness and support as they were forced to leave their homes.

We ask all people of good will to join Caritas Polska’s “Afghanistan” campaign and support in collecting funds in order to most effectively help people forced to flee and seek shelter.

We ask all the faithful to pray for refugees and migrants. Let us pray constantly for the elimination of the causes of migration, wars, and social injustice, persecution, and hunger. Let us also pray for ourselves, that we would awaken in ourselves and in our communities an attitude of prudent, responsible hospitality and fraternity.

Warsaw, 22 August 2021

The Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for Migration, Tourism and Pilgrimages

Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko
Chairman

(translation: s. P. Nau / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference)

Photo: Caritas Polska