(ANSA) - VATICAN CITY, DEC 29 - That of migrants "is a reality in front of which we cannot close our eyes", "it is a social scandal of humanity". The Pope said this in the general audience. "Today I believe that a prayer is needed for all migrants, all persecuted and all those who are victims of adverse circumstances, be they political, historical, personal circumstances. We think of so many people who are victims of wars who want to flee their homeland but cannot .
Let's think of the migrants who start that road to be free and many end up on the road or in the sea ".
The Pope, dedicating the catechesis to "Saint Joseph as a persecuted and courageous migrant" and recalling that the Holy Family was forced for a period to take refuge in Egypt to escape the violence of Herod, added: "Even today many of our brothers and many of ours sisters are forced to experience the same injustice and suffering. The cause is almost always the arrogance and violence of the powerful ".
(HANDLE).