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Dear Brothers, “In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope.” (Pope Leo XIV, 25 July 2025) As we approach the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated this year within the Jubilee of Migrants and Missions, I wish to share Pope Leo’s message for the day and offer some reflections on our mission in relation to migration. This reflection seeks to address the pressing questions and challenges that affect people and communities across our Diocese. Migrants as missionaries of hope Despite enduring conflict and displacement, migrants and refugees are often powerful witnesses of faith and resilience. They bring spiritual and cultural gifts that can enrich and revitalise the Church and our wider communities. Their presence should not be considered a burden, but a grace. In the words of Pope Leo, it “should be recognised and appreciated as a true divine blessing, an opportunity to open oneself to the grace of God, who gives new energy and hope to his Church: ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it’ (Heb 13:2).” I am deeply concerned by recent anti-refugee sentiment, which stands in stark contrast to the Gospel. Many who arrive here seeking refuge are vulnerable, particularly children and young people, carrying both the scars of conflict and the fragile hope of safety and a future free from fear. Too often, they face delays, restrictions and renewed anxiety. At the same time, we must listen attentively to genuine local concerns about integration and resources.
These deserve thoughtful, practical solutions, rooted not in media narratives but in careful consideration of truth and facts. They require a compassionate response: rejecting prejudice, affirming the dignity of every person and action in accordance with our Christian calling. I am encouraged by the compassion already shown in many of our parishes and the dedicated work of Caritas Salford, our schools and colleges and Catholic agencies, who provide both practical and pastoral support. Our call Our faith commands us to ‘welcome the stranger’ (cf. Mt 25:35; Dt 10:19). In their recent document Love the Stranger, the Bishops’ Conference offers a contemporary vision of what this means in practice, reaffirming the right of individuals to seek asylum and calling us not merely to tolerate newcomers, but to actively embrace them so that they may thrive. We are reminded of our Christian duty to look beyond labels and see the person who has left their homeland in search of a better life, affirming their dignity and worth. A Church of welcome Our recent journey of listening and discernment through our Diocesan Synod reminds us that the Church must be a place of welcome, never exclusion. True welcome involves more than open doors; it also requires removing barriers and prejudices that prevent people from belonging. We are called not to stand apart as benefactors, but to walk with people in their struggles, to serve with empathy and to recognise the gifts they bring. Migrants and refugees must not remain at the margins but be valued at the heart of our parish life. A pastoral response With this in mind, I encourage you and all parishioners in our Diocese to respond positively through: 1. Prayer – for migrants, refugees and the communities in which they live. 2. Proclamation – speaking out against prejudice, threats and violence. 3. Practical action – offering tangible support, volunteering, partnering with Caritas Salford or creating initiatives of welcome. In this Jubilee Year, let us walk as pilgrims of hope, building bridges rather than walls, and remain steadfast in justice, mercy, and solidarity. May Our Lady, Comfort of Migrants, sustain us in this mission.
✠ John Arnold Bishop of Salford