During the canonisation mass of two Italian-born Saints, Pope Francis went off-script to deliver a powerful message about the treatment of migrants.
Pope Francis attended a mass to canonise two new Saints, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini and Artemide Zatti in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on October 9, 2022.
During his message to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis made an impassioned defence of migrants. Going off-script, he called their exclusion “scandalous, disgusting and sinful.”
Francis made his comments as he canonised a 19th century bishop known as the “father of migrants” and a 20th century man who ministered to the sick in Argentina.
Francis, who has made support of migrants a major theme of his pontificate, presided over the ceremony before 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.
“The exclusion of migrants is scandalous. Indeed, the exclusion of migrants is criminal. It makes them die in front of us,” he said.
“And so today the Mediterranean is the world’s largest cemetery,” he said, referring to thousands who have drowned trying to reach Europe.
“The exclusion of migrants is disgusting, it is sinful. It is criminal not to open doors to those who are needy,” he said.
Two holy men of faith
Recalling the examples of the two newly-named Saints, Pope Francis said each of these two holy men reminds us “of the importance of walking together and being able to give thanks.”
Both dedicated their lives to a Church that was inclusive and without barriers, as Saint Scalabrini cared a great deal for migrants and Saint Zatti cared greatly for the sick, taking upon himself the wounds of others.
“With great vision, Scalabrini looked forward to a world and a Church without barriers, where no one was a foreigner. For his part, the Salesian Brother Artemide Zatti was a living example of gratitude.”
The Pope noted how today, here in Europe, there is one migration causing “so much pain:” the migration of Ukrainians fleeing the war.
How will this sit with the new government?
The Pope’s remarks sit in stark contrast to the incoming government’s stance on immigration. Giorgia Meloni is expected to become prime minister later this month. She will head a right-wing coalition that has vowed to crack down on immigration and tighten Italy’s borders.
At the same time, Meloni’s party Brothers of Italy pledged to keep family values, something the Catholic Church also wants.
