圣座十一月二十七日在梵蒂冈新闻室举行记者招待会，介绍教宗本笃十六世为明年二零一零年第九十六届世界移民难民日所写的文告。明年新文告的主题是《未成年的移民和难民》，可见未来特别需要关怀的对象是未成年的移民和难民。
教宗在文告中强调：“移民也是人，他们同样享有不可剥夺的基本人权，所以必须始终受到每个人的尊重”。教宗因此邀请大家“体谅远离家国的人的艰苦，同时关注世界各大洲千百万儿童的悲困处境”。教宗说“这些儿童是最脆弱的人，因为他们没有能力使社会大众听到他们的声音”。教宗引证耶稣的警告说：凡是给最小弟兄中的一个所做的，就是为耶稣做的。因此，在世界末日最后审判时，上主将根据这一点来审判每个人（参见玛25,40-45）。移民或难民中的儿童就是最小弟兄中的一个，耶稣自比着他们。事实上，耶稣也曾经是移民，甚至是难民，因为他出生不久便随着双亲逃离黑落德国王的迫害，避居埃及（参见玛2,14）。
教宗在文告中指出：虽然联合国曾发表儿童权利公 约，但世界上仍有许多未成年者被遗弃，陷入遭剥削的危险。这些儿童中有一部分是出生在侨居地；另一部分则在本国出生后，父母亲便离开他们移居外国，在经过 一段时期之后他们才前往双亲侨居地团聚。教宗指出：从某方面看，这样的儿童少年有双重文化的优点和问题。但至少他们的处境使他们有机会体验不同文化传统的 丰富内容。
教 宗因此祝望移民或难民儿童少年能借着在侨居地入学以及未来在当地工作的途径，而融入侨居地社会。教宗尤其关心那些寻求外国庇护的难民儿童，他们由于种种原 因无法得到本国适当的保护而逃离。根据统计，世界难民儿童的人数一直在增加，因此这种现象特别需要受到各方面的重视，并根据儿童权利公约的规定，由各国际 组织和国家机构彼此协调，采取预防、保护和接纳的措施。
教宗在文告中也感谢世界各国天主教本堂区和教会慈善机构，它们本着信德和爱德的精神，尽最大的努力协助处在困难中的兄弟姐妹。教宗因此进一步邀请每位基督信徒意识到移民和难民儿童所需要的社会和牧灵关怀，他说“接纳异乡人，尤其是异乡儿童，就是宣讲关怀的福音。当教会敞开双臂接待移民和难民，并促使国家和国际组织机构尊重他们的权利，推动支持他们的种种活动创举，就是在宣讲这样的福音”。
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE 96th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (2010)
Theme: Minor migrants and refugees
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees once again gives me the opportunity to express the Church's constant concern for those who, in different ways, experience a life of emigration. This is a phenomenon which, as I wrote in the Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, upsets us due to the number of people involved and the social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it raises on account of the dramatic challenges it poses to both national and international communities. The migrant is a human person who possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance (cf. n. 62).
This year's theme – “Minor migrants and refugees” – touches an aspect that Christians view with great attention, remembering the warning of Christ who at the Last Judgement will consider as directed to himself everything that has been done or denied “to one of the least of these” (cf. Mt 25:40, 45). And how can one fail to consider migrant and refugee minors as also being among the “least”? As a child, Jesus himself experienced migration for, as the Gospel recounts, in order to flee the threats of Herod, he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary (cf. Mt 2:14).5 }/ P9 C+ W& U6 a
While the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that the best interests of the minor shall always be safeguarded (cf. Art. 3, 1), recognizing his or her fundamental human rights as equal to the rights of adults, unfortunately this does not always happen in practice.
Although there is increasing public awareness of the need for immediate and incisive action to protect minors, nevertheless, many are left to themselves and, in various ways, face the risk of exploitation. My venerable Predecessor, John Paul II, voiced the dramatic situation in which they live in the Message he addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations on 22 September 1990, on the occasion of the World Summit for Children.( m3 i7 K' X1 s6 X
“I am a witness of the heart-breaking plight of millions of children on every continent. They are most vulnerable, because they are least able to make their voice heard” (L’Osservatore Romano,English edition, 1 October 1990, p. 13). I warmly hope that proper attention will be given to minor migrants who need a social environment that permits and fosters their physical, cultural, spiritual and moral development. Living in a foreign land without effective points of reference generates countless and sometimes serious hardships and difficulties for them, especially those deprived of the support of their family. 6 r$ m `& ~* g9 X
A typical aspect of the migration of minors is the situation of children born in the host country or of those who do not live with their parents, who emigrated after their birth, but join them later. These adolescents belong to two cultures with all the advantages and problems attached to their dual background, a condition that can nevertheless offer them the opportunity to experience the wealth of an encounter between different cultural traditions. It is important that these young people be given the possibility of attending school and subsequently of being integrated into the world of work, and that their social integration be facilitated by appropriate educational and social structures. It should never be forgotten that adolescence constitutes a fundamental phase for the formation of human beings.
A particular category of minors is that of refugees seeking asylum, who, for various reasons, are fleeing their own country, where they are not given adequate protection. Statistics show that their numbers are increasing. This is therefore a phenomenon that calls for careful evaluation and coordinated action by implementing appropriate measures of prevention, protection and welcome, as set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (cf. Art. 22).
I now turn in particular to parishes and to the many Catholic associations which, imbued with a spirit of faith and charity, take pains to meet the needs of these brothers and sisters of ours. While I express gratitude for all that is being done with great generosity, I would like to invite all Christians to become aware of the social and pastoral challenges posed by migrant and refugee minors. - i- q q, @& c8 b
Jesus' words resound in our hearts: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35), as, likewise, the central commandment he left us: to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind, but together with love of neighbour (cf. Mt 22:37-39).0 q) J% _3 C; J) N0 K0 J- h" W8 V
This leads us to consider that any of our concrete interventions must first be nurtured by faith in the action of grace and divine Providence. In this way also hospitality and solidarity to strangers, especially if they are children, become a proclamation of the Gospel of solidarity. The Church proclaims this when she opens her arms and strives to have the rights of migrants and refugees respected, moving the leaders of Nations, and those in charge of international organizations and institutions to promote opportune initiatives for their support.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary watch over us all and help us to understand the difficulties faced by those who are far from their homeland. I assure all those who are involved in the vast world of migrants and refugees of my prayers and cordially impart to them the Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, 16 October 2009.
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