Bishops meet in Cozumel to reflect and offer guidelines on these topics.

Pope Francis titled his message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees: “A Church without borders, mother of all.” “In a time of such vast migrations, a large number of people leave their places of origin and undertake the risky journey of hope, with luggage full of desires and fears, in search of more humane living conditions. It is not surprising, however, that these migratory movements evoke distrust and rejection, even in ecclesial communities, even before knowing the circumstances of persecution or misery of the affected persons. These suspicions and prejudices oppose the biblical commandment to welcome the foreigner in need with respect and solidarity,” comments the Pope in his message.

With this invitation from the Pope, the bishops of Acapulco, Cuautitlán Izcalli, and the Prelature of Cancún-Chetumal held a special meeting in Cozumel to discuss topics related to migration, human trafficking, and tourism, in order to provide social and pastoral assistance to these people.

During the first two days of July, the bishops and other priests from other coastal cities of Mexico held the Meeting of the Episcopal Dimension of Pastoral Human Mobility, where they reflected on these issues, including maritime and transportation pastoral care, to establish proposals to serve, as a Church, people in these situations, as well as those working in ports and cruise ships or passing through a city.

Through a statement, the bishops announced that the agreements made at this meeting will be presented at the next plenary assembly of the Mexican Episcopal Conference, with the purpose of promoting the Church’s actions on these issues, for example, strengthening the more than 60 Migrant Houses distributed across the national territory.

What can the Church in Mexico offer to repatriates? What can the bishops of the dioceses do with migrants, with deportees? What lines of action can they take in relation to the bishops of the United States? These and other topics will be presented at the next CEM assembly, focusing on migration.

The meeting concluded with a Eucharistic celebration held at the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where hundreds of parishioners took the opportunity to listen to the message of the pastors.