By Eleanor O’Hagan 

Senior Staff Writer

Since the election and inauguration of President Trump, there have been many changes put into the works for better or worse for the nation. Among these changes are the plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants.  

Now, while those who come to the country illegally should face legal repercussions, Pope Francis has pointed out the issue of those seeking asylum, refugees and children involved. In a recent letter to the Bishops of the United States, his holiness addressed how he believes the Catholic Church should respond to the issue of migration: “Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception.”  

In his letter, Pope Francis mentioned that even the Holy Family were refugees. During the flight to Egypt to escape Herod, the Holy family fled to a different land for safety. Pope Francis acknowledges that a nation has every right to protect their country and keep the citizens within the country as safe as possible. His holiness, however, did express his concern for the safety and dignity of the those who are not violent criminals: “the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.” 

Looking at the teachings of the Catholic Church, the example of Christ throughout the Gospels and other things such as the Corporal works of Mercy, it is clear that we have a duty as Catholics to work to help those seeking asylum from war and poverty and to ensure that the dignity of the human person is upheld.  

Pope Francis has asked the bishops and the faithful of the United States to work to build bridges among communities, to work together to help immigrants, especially families, to obtain citizenship and receive the help they need to find a better life in the United States. His holiness understands the fear of dangerous persons and criminals entering the nation, but he asks for the people of the United States to work to allow refugees and families to find safety there.  

He urged us to “ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect individuals and families who live in fear or pain due to migration and/or deportation. May the “Virgen morena,” who knew how to reconcile peoples when they were at enmity, grant us all to meet again as brothers and sisters, within her embrace, and thus take a step forward in the construction of a society that is more fraternal, inclusive and respectful of the dignity of all.”