Speech #860091764

Pope John XXIII. on June 28. 1959. broadcast a worldwide appeal particularly asking Catholics to aid their unfortunate brothers uprooted by war or political changes. The Pope called upon world governments to throw open their frontiers ever more generously and speedily to bring about the human and social resettlement of so many unfortunate people. The word refugee accurately pinpoints the temporal conditions of men and nations. of freedom and things human. It would seem to be a litmus test whether society iA built for man or man for society. The word "refugee" apparently entered the English language through the French from the Latin. Originally it appears to have been one who sought shelter or protection. thus refuge. from danger. for Which reason he fled. Hence a refugee is ordinarily one who flees persecution. or who feels compelled to flee because of fear of persecution. on account of race. religion. or other human circumstance. In our days it is usually limited to political refugees. in sharp contradistinction to economic refugees (those who flee to improve the opportunities for their economic livelihood). Refugees. unfortunately. cross the pages of history as far back as it is recorded. It is sometimes difficult in history to - distinguish refugee movements from simple migration movements. It is generally accepted that the refugee. as David or Coriolanus. as Einstein or Sturzo. is dependent upon the mercy of those who receive him. The early pilgrims. for the most part. are properly classified as refugees as were also the Quakers who settled in Pennsylvania. It was left to our modern era. however. for the first time to witnessi this phenomenon on a worldwide scale. It is in the historic political tradition of the West to offer political asylum. Americans. alive to their history. will recall their own glorious tradition. an apt expression of which is found in Emma Lazarus immortal inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Christians. as their spiritual forbears the Jews (who were a nation of refugees). have an especial openness of heart to yefugees. As a people we began with our infant Christ. in exile with His virgin mother and foster father. fleeing the wrath of Herod. The Holy family. as Christian refugees. found refuge in pagan Egypt where peace and bread through work was made available to them. In this matter. Pope John recently declared that "The lot of those who live in exile far away from their homelands has always evoked id a very special manner the motherly solicitude of the Catholic Church. which could not forget the words of Christ. its divine founder. I was a stranger and you took me in. naked andyou covered me. ** in prison. and you came to me." Where are the refugees? The worldwide range of refugees includes. among others. Tibetans in India. Indonesias in Saigon.