To help internally displaced people, the Vatican has provided pastoral guidelines.
The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development created this guidance to respond to present day challenges, creating the booklet: “Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced Persons” (POIDP).
According to Vatican News, it is intended “to provide a series of key considerations that may be useful… in pastoral planning and programme development for the effective assistance of IDPs.”
The booklet identifies “new challenges posed by the present global scenario” and suggests “adequate pastoral responses.”
The text, which could be accessed by clicking the link at the bottom of this article, was presented today in a private, streamed press conference.
In Pope Francis’ message for 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, he had explained: «When I instituted the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, I wanted a particular section – under my personal direction for the time being – to express the Church’s concern for migrants, displaced people, refugees and victims of human trafficking.»
«Every stranger who knocks at our door,» the Argentinian Pope reminded, «is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age (Matthew 25:35-43).»
The POIDP booklet, presented today, offers “suggestions and guidance for action based on four words: welcome, protect, promote, and integrate.” These verbs, the Pope has repeatedly said, are essential in respecting migrants and refugees.
***
One can read the full text of the the POIDP booklet, in English, by clicking the link below from the Migrants & Refugees Section’s website:
https://migrants-refugees.va/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1.-Read-On-Screen-A5-EN-.pdf
