“Church must do more than providing shelter”: Catholic Archbishop in Angola on Care for Migrants, Refugees

He warned, “At the end of our lives, the Lord will ask us: 'Where is your brother?'" and stressed the need for a humanity based on solidarity, “a humanity that shares hearts.”

Archbishop Zeca lamented the challenges migrants face, saying, “How can it be that migrants and refugees have been in Angola for more than 20 years without documentation? How can children born in Angola, now school-aged, still be without official papers?” 

He said without documentation, individuals cannot access healthcare, travel freely, or enroll their children in school. 

“Without documents, you are not a citizen; without documents, you do not exist,” he added.

The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) appealed for compassion for those forced to leave their homelands due to conflict or in search of a better life. 

“Migration is an integral part of human history. Over centuries, millions have been forced to leave their homes for various reasons. The Church, regardless of any political, legal, or religious circumstance, must not allow any human being to be ignored or abandoned,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader called for breaking down barriers, asserting that “anyone who acts in favor of human dignity—regardless of race, tribe, nationality, or legal status—is a true friend of Christ.”

He lamented the divisiveness that persists even in Christian communities, warning against envy and prejudice that prevent migrants from fully integrating. 

“We must fight against the mindset that some should have more rights or privileges than others. The Church is a community of brothers and sisters where no one should be excluded,” Archbishop Zeca sad.

He added, “Jesus Christ’s love is boundless and requires us to give everything.”

Archbishop Zeca also issued a challenge to political leaders, stating, “The Church cannot stand by while laws are enacted that harm human dignity. We must advocate for policies, in Angola and worldwide, that serve humanity.”

Meanwhile in Ivory Coast, Bishop Bruno Essoh Yedoh of the Catholic Diocese of Bondoukou urged the Church and society to remember that migrants are not strangers, but brothers and sisters in search of security and love.

Reflecting on the global crisis of displacement, the President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care and Integral Human Development said that the Church's mission is to never abandon the most vulnerable.

“As disciples of Christ, we are challenged to listen to the cries of migrants and refugees fleeing war, violence, poverty, and climate change, seeking compassion and a better future,” Bishop Yedoh said during the Eucharistic celebration at St. Michael Adjamé Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan.

Bishop Yedoh highlighted the importance of welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants. 

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He encouraged the faithful to overcome fear of the other and embrace a culture of inclusion.

“Welcoming a migrant means allowing our communities to grow in love and diversity, to open our hearts to others, no matter their origin,” he said.

Bishop Yedoh lauded the many initiatives undertaken by the Catholic Church in Ivory Coast, such as parish hospitality and psychosocial support programs, that aim to protect and integrate migrants and refugees. 

He called for continued efforts to help displaced people rebuild their lives with dignity and respect for their human rights.

Justin Assalé contributed to the writing of this story