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“Welcoming migrants a Christian faith obligation”: Catholic Archbishop in Angola

The President of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CEPAMI) in Angola has said welcoming migrants is not just a human duty but a requirement of the Christian faith. 

Speaking at the conclusion of the 13th Assembly of CEPAMI, Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins emphasized the Church’s commitment to human dignity, as expressed through its social doctrine. 

“Welcoming migrants is not just a human duty but a Christian faith obligation, which should motivate the Church’s actions. This concept is central to the Church’s social doctrine, emphasizing that every person has intrinsic value,” Archbishop Zeca said during the October 18 event.

He added, “The Church, in its social doctrine, proclaims that the dignity of the person is founded on the equality of all human beings. The dignity of the human person is a fundamental principle of the Church’s social doctrine, which opposes the marginalization and disrespect that migrants face.”

The Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archbishop of Huambo explained that “the Church's commitment to migrants is not seen as charity or a favor but as an issue of faith. The Church feels obligated to defend human dignity in the face of the challenges migrants face.”

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“This human dignity is based on principles of solidarity, proportionality, and equity among individuals,” he continued, noting that “human dignity is upheld by these principles, which should guide society and its laws.”

Archbishop Zeca said, “The Church affirms that no one is a stranger within it, underscoring that the response to human situations transcends cultural and social laws, finding its foundation in Jesus Christ.” 

The CEPAMI President further said, “The Church's view of the human condition does not reside within the limits of a society’s culture or laws, but in the spirit of solidarity and welcome, which finds its reason in Jesus Christ.”

The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) emphasized that the Church's actions are driven by faith in Christ and its mission to support humanity in all circumstances, stressing that welcoming and solidarity are duties born from faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.

“For this reason, the Church does not see its ministry to migrants as a mere act of charity or assistance to the needy. Its commitment goes far beyond that, as the Church sees its own faith challenged by this phenomenon, which can trample on human dignity,” he said.

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He continued, “This is why the Church’s response is rooted in its faith in Christ and its mission to serve all people, in every circumstance of life,” the Archbishop added.

Archbishop Zeca also noted that the Church’s response to challenges faced by migrants depends on the credibility of its faith. “The quality of the Church’s reaction to these phenomena depends significantly on the strength of its faith. For Christians, welcoming and showing solidarity with foreigners is not only a human duty of hospitality but also a specific obligation arising from faithfulness to Christ’s teachings.”

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.