Immigrants representing more than 35 countries participated in a multicultural Mass celebrating Chicago’s diverse Catholic community in observance of National Migration Week at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Jan. 6. The Mass featured multilingual readings and music in languages, such as English, Spanish, Polish, Swahili, Arabic and Tagalog.
Pope Francis’ witness on immigration inspired local ministries Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago who minister to and advocate for immigrants were inspired by Pope Francis’ words and actions, from visiting Lampedusa, Italy, to mourn migrants lost at sea in the opening months of his pontificate, to celebrating Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border, and urging members of the U.S. Congress in 2015 to find an immigration policy that would be “always humane, just and fraternal.”
El Paso bishop calls Catholics to advocate against ‘morally indefensible’ actions toward migrants U.S. Catholics must advocate for a humane immigration system at a time when the federal government is taking a number of “morally indefensible” actions towards migrants and immigrants, according to Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas.
Pope, a ‘son of immigrants,’ leaves legacy of migrant advocacy When Pope Francis chose the small Italian island of Lampedusa as the destination for his first trip outside Rome after his election, he signaled to the world that migration would be a defining issue of his pontificate.