World Day of Peace 2018 Handout

The World Day of Peace 2018 handout focuses on Pope Francis’ message titled: “Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in Search of Peace.”

Key Themes

• Contemplative Gaze: Pope Francis calls Catholics to look upon migrants and refugees with faith and compassion, recognizing God’s presence in their lives.
• Root Causes of Migration: War, conflict, genocide, ethnic cleansing, poverty, lack of opportunity, and environmental degradation force people to flee.
• Four Mileposts for Action:
  1. Welcoming: Expand legal pathways for entry while balancing security and human rights.
  2. Protecting: Defend the inviolable dignity of those who flee.
  3. Promoting: Support integral human development for migrants and refugees.
  4. Integrating: Enable full participation in society, enriching both newcomers and host communities.

Practical Steps

1. Pray: Adopt a contemplative gaze and pray for migrants and refugees. Use resources like bit.ly/9WaysPray.
2. Learn: Explore stories and resources at ShareJourney.org and WeAreSaltAndLight.org.
3. Act: Advocate for policies supporting migrants and refugees via ConfrontGlobalPoverty.org and JusticeForImmigrants.org.

Prayer for Migrants and Refugees

• A plea to overcome indifference and recognize migrants as brothers and sisters.
• Calls for sharing blessings and embracing unity as one human family journeying toward peace.

World-Day-of-Peace-2018-handout.pdf