For the centenary anniversary of the death of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Pope Francis remembered this saint's charism, to help migrants. Together, with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who are present in 15 countries today, he spoke about the relevance of her mission.
POPE FRANCIS
“After so many years, the situation of migrants, to whom St. Frances Xavier dedicated all her life, has evolved and is more topical than ever. New faces of men, women and children, marked by so many forms of poverty and violence, stand before our eyes and hope to find on their way outstretched hands and welcoming hearts like those of Mother Cabrini.”
He continued to say that migrants need “good laws, development programs, and organizations, but, most importantly they need love, friendship, and human closeness.”
Mother Barbara Louise Staley told him about their founder and first U.S. citizen to become a saint, St. Frances Xavier. She died in Chicago on December 22, 1917 at age 67 and is the patron saint of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13.