Dear friends, let us not forget the flesh of Christ which is in the flesh of refugees: their flesh is the flesh of Christ. It is also your task to direct all the institutions working in the area of forced migration to new forms of co-responsibility. This phenomenon is unfortunately constantly spreading. Hence your task is increasingly demanding in order to promote tangible responses of closeness, journeying with people, taking into account the different local backgrounds.
Interpretation
Pope Francis calls for empathy towards refugees by relating their suffering to the suffering of Christ, urging action and co-responsibility.
In this quote, Pope Francis emphasizes the moral obligation to recognize the humanity and dignity of refugees, equating their flesh and suffering with that of Christ. He challenges individuals and institutions to move beyond mere acknowledgment of the refugee crisis to active engagement and support, advocating for a compassionate, responsible approach that respects local contexts and fosters solidarity in addressing the widespread nature of forced migration.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about humanitarian efforts during a charity event.
We are a church of sinners but we must not be afraid of holiness. Do not be afraid to aim for holiness and turn yourselves over to the love of God. Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things but carrying out daily things in an extraordinary way that is with love, joy and faith.
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This Christmas may we be consistent in living the Gospel, welcoming Jesus into the centre of our lives.
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Every day of my life I walk with the idea that I am black, no matter how successful I am. And our success is tempered by that; you're successful in this way given the fact you are black, and most blacks don't get to that point.
And if my present deeds are foolish in thy sight, it may be that a foolish judge arraigns my folly.
Do you think we enjoy hearing about your brand-new million-dollar home when we can barely afford to eat Kraft Dinner sandwiches in our own grimy little shoe boxes and we're pushing thirty? A home you won in a genetic lottery, I might add, sheerly by dint of your having been born at the right time in history? You'd last about ten minutes if you were my age these days.
One certain effect of war is to diminish freedom of expression. Patriotism becomes the order of the day, and those who question the war are seen as traitors, to be silenced and imprisoned.
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