Today is World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated by the Catholic Church since 1914. In his message Pope Francis has chosen the theme: Forced like Jesus Christ to flee to focus on the pastoral care of internally displaced people. An estimated 41 million persons worldwide are displaced.

The Amnesty International website (amnesty.org) lists many reasons people leave their countries. “Children, women and men fleeing from violence, war, hunger, extreme poverty, because of sexual or gender orientation, from the consequences of climate change or other natural disasters. Often people will face a combination of these difficult circumstances.”

Amnesty International cites additional reasons: A better chance of finding work in another country because they have the education or capital to seek opportunities elsewhere, to join relatives or friends already living abroad, to start or finish their education in another country.

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