Jesuits in Africa Commit “to welcome, protect, promote, seek integration of migrants”

In the statement, the Jesuit cleric further stated that their services to migrants extends to “forcibly displaced people – internally displaced, refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, survivors of human trafficking, people in transit and those forcibly returned.”

“In serving vulnerable migrants collaboratively, we will be especially attentive to those suffering discrimination because of gender, age and disability,” the statement reads.

Fr. Chilufya recounted some of the activities during the conference saying, “During the first half of the conference, presenters took the stage to highlight the big political, social and economic challenges faced by vulnerable migrants in different regions of Africa.”

“The sessions that followed included a mapping exercise among the participants followed by group discussions that brought participants to a space of collaboration. The conference identified six clusters of collaboration, as well as defined a simple network structure for tracking the results of the conference,” the Jesuit cleric added.

According to the Migrant Ministry in Africa 2017 Report, by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development in the Vatican, there are more than 40 million migrants in Africa.

More in Africa

At Priestly Golden Jubilee, Catholic Archbishop in Uganda Advocates for Selflessness, Appeals for Clemency to Prisoners

Read the article

The Dicastery credits the movements to war, ethnic struggle, hunger and ecological disaster, people are forced to leave their homes for hunting, exchange of goods and work.

Meanwhile, during his weekly general address, Pope Francis spoke of the need to show hospitality to migrants and other strangers because it is an opportunity for uniting and sharing Christ’s love. 

The Nairobi conference brought together social centers, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), universities, Lead Magis (youth network), Church institutions and partners in the mission from Europe.