Vatican official praises Detroit Archdiocese for response to immigrants

Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo's mission to the United States is of the utmost importance to the Vatican: to be the pope's ears on the ground.

Visiting the Archdiocese of Detroit for the annual Holy Trinity Apostolate Lenten Symposium March 11, Figueiredo's role in the Vatican's Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development means he has the task of speaking with local bishops and Catholic leaders about what is being done, and what more can be done, in support of refugees and immigrants seeking safety in the United States.

The new dicastery was formed by Pope Francis Aug. 31 and took effect Jan. 1, bringing together the pontifical councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Migrants and Travelers, and Health Care Ministry.

Figueiredo said the councils were combined to create the new dicastery to answer to the needs of thousands of migrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking, who are being forced from their homes.

"The department does not wish to be an action center, but rather look at the whole phenomena of migration and refugees," Figueiredo said in an interview with The Michigan Catholic, Detroit's archdiocesan newspaper. "It's in our bones to migrate; it's part of human history."

Figueiredo cited a U.N. report stating there are as many as 78 million refugees in the world today, and as many as 244 million migrants and refugees all together.

While much attention has been paid to President Donald Trump's immigration and refugee policy, Figueiredo said the issue is "a major phenomenon" in the world.

"We're looking at a massive movement of people that hasn't been seen in generations," said Figueiredo, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. "Our job is assisting the Holy Father in his ministry to these people, by assisting the local bishops in their diocese and seeing what's happening on the ground."

Figueiredo's visit to the Archdiocese of Detroit is the first of many he is taking around the world, meeting with local Catholic leaders about what support the Vatican can provide for refugees, which Figueiredo said is one of the biggest issues in Francis' pontificate.

"One of the things we need to do from the beginning is listen, listen to the concerns and the needs of the people," Figueiredo said. "We see migrants, refugees, who are affected by the phenomena in the world, and we need to address their concerns. What is key is to help people see migrants and refugees as people who are suffering. When we see images on television, that's one thing. But when we meet with them, hearts are moved."

Before the Lenten Symposium, Figueiredo met with Jason Shanks, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, and Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda, who a week earlier had hosted a gathering of organizations that resettle immigrants and refugees.

While visiting the Catholic Charities location in Pontiac, Figueiredo met with families from Syria and Iraq who were resettled by Catholic Charities.

"The thing people need to remember is that each and every one of their stories are unique," Figueiredo said. "These are people who had to leave their homelands, coming to a foreign country without knowing anyone. You know, compassion means 'to suffer with.' A person can only 'suffer with' if we have a theology of encounter. That helps reduce the phobia surrounding refugees: to see the person as a person, not as a threat or a statistic."

Figueiredo said he discussed with Shanks how Trump's temporary ban on refugee resettlement — currently blocked by the courts — could affect the finances of Catholic Charities, as the agency receives federal grants to resettle newcomers. He also praised the leadership of Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron in speaking on behalf of immigrants and refugees in southeast Michigan.

"I'm happy to hear that the Archdiocese of Detroit is in the front of these issues, that Archbishop Vigneron is taking a firm stand," Figueiredo said. "People in the greater Detroit area are getting behind this issue. People are looking to the church, asking what the church can do. Not only materially, but to give hope and encouragement. A lot of this comes from Pope Francis, and it'll be encouraging to report back that this is what's happening in Detroit."

Figueiredo said he and others in his department are well aware of the economic and security fears governments might have in accepting refugees and immigrants, but that is no excuse to abandon the Christian message of welcoming the stranger.

With all the fear and negativity surrounding the issue that seems to dominate the news cycle, Figueiredo said the most important thing Catholics can do is stick to the core principles of loving one another and placing trust with God, even when the debate about the country's next steps seems tense.

"The Christian message is a message of hope, so that's the first thing we need to do, give hope," Figueiredo said. "The heart of the Christian message is the Resurrection and that there is no barrier, no wall, no heart that can't be changed. It's about the least who ultimately triumph. The eyes of God are on those who suffer. So we need to have faith in God."