The Vatican held its first virtual press conference. It presented a document of positive experiences and proposals to assist internally-displaced persons.
MATTEO BRUNI
Vatican spokesman
“Today we turn our attention to internally-displaced persons. In 2018, there were 41 million. They cannot access the refugee protection system provided in international law.”
FABIO BAGGIO
Undersecretary, Migrants and Refugees Section (Holy See)
“We wanted to bring this phenomenon to light, and remember the activity that the Church must and can do for them.”
Imagine leaving both home and nation, due to a conflict or an earthquake. This is the current situation of almost 51 million people.
They live in precarious conditions, in crowded camps, temporary shelters or barracks, without health care or educational resources. Now, also facing the coronavirus, they are unprotected and scared.
FABIO BAGGIO
Undersecretary, Migrants and Refugees Section (Holy See)
“We are not talking about distant populations, but people who live nearby, often next door. In my parish, in my diocese, what can I do? We hope those in this field will find needed answers in this document.”
The document invites collaboration between governments and all society to help these people. In addition, it asks for guaranteed spiritual care of these people, since it is one of their basic needs.
The text is freely available on the Vatican section's website, and will undoubtedly help many face one of the hidden dramas of our time.
JMB/ Melissa Butz
