Immigration News: Pope Francis Asks For Protection Of Unaccompanied Central American Minors

Pope Francis sent a message today in which he called on the international community to protect and shelter migrant children traveling alone and living in a humanitarian crisis. The text from the Pontiff, released under the Holy See-Mexico Symposium on International Migration and Development, said that the humanitarian emergency of infants without accompanying parents urged countries to protect them and welcome them properly.

However , in the statement read by the apostolic nuncio, Christopher Pierre, these actions are not sufficient unless accompanied by informed policies on the dangers of the journey and, above all, by promoting development in their countries of origin. A change in attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed, says the Pope, to move away from defensiveness and fear, disinterest or exclusion, an towards an attitude based on the culture of compassion.

Pope Francis therefore drew attention to the tens of thousands of children who migrate alone to escape poverty and violence, most of whom depart from Central America and Mexico to cross the U.S. border under extreme conditions. According to Francisco, every day the number of children who are in search of hope increases, a hope that is most often dashed. Faced with this challenge, he urged the international community to create mechanisms so they be treated properly.