In these times marked by unprecedented human displacement, I appeal to you with a call to solidarity rooted in the Gospel. A painful reality weighs heavily on our Christian conscience: refugee families who remain separated for years\u2014sometimes through the majority of a child\u2019s formative life.<\/p>\n\n
The Family: A Sacred Gift from God<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Scripture teaches us the dignity and beauty of family bonds. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus reminds us:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cHave you not read that the Creator from the beginning \u2018made them male and female\u2019?
\n\u2026 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.\u201d <\/i><\/b>\u2014 Matthew 19:4\u20136<\/p>\n\n
This Word of the Lord reveals that the unity of the family is not merely a social convention\u2014it is a divine design. The family is where life begins, where it grows, and where it takes root in love. It is the first sanctuary of hope.<\/p>\n\n
The Church\u2019s Call<\/b><\/p>\n\n
The late Pope Francis, in his 2018 message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, urges us to \u201cpromote and protect family unity\u2014including extended families\u2014regardless of economic criteria.\u201d He also drew attention to the particular vulnerability of migrant children, especially when they are separated from their parents.<\/p>\n\n
Here in Canada, many families live with the heartbreak of prolonged separation. Some have been apart for four or five years\u2014or even longer\u2014waiting for reunification.<\/p>\n\n
A Cry That Cannot Be Ignored<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Allow me to share the moving testimony of a refugee father:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cMy daughter was four years old when I held her in my arms for the last time. She will be ten when she\u2019s finally allowed to join me. I\u2019m losing half of her childhood while I try to build our future here.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n
This cry from the heart speaks to us all. How can we remain unmoved in the face of such suffering? How can we justify denying parents these precious years with their children? This is not only a bureaucratic matter\u2014it is a question of humanity, of justice, of faith.<\/p>\n\n
Our Response as Disciples of Christ<\/b><\/p>\n\n
As baptized Christians, we are called to be witnesses of unity, mercy, and peace. The Church\u2019s social teaching reminds us that \u201cthe family is the sanctuary of life\u201d<\/i> (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 231), and that \u201cthe well-being of the family is inseparable from the common good of society\u201d<\/i> (no. 229).<\/p>\n\n
A Call to Fraternal Charity<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Beloved brothers and sisters, the words of Saint John resound with urgency today:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIf someone has worldly possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses them compassion, how can the love of God remain in them?\u201d<\/i><\/b> \u2014 1 John 3:17<\/p>\n\n
These families are our brothers and sisters. Their hope for reunion must also become our hope\u2014and our commitment. In prayer, in speech, and in action, each of us can help raise their voices and support efforts toward a more just and compassionate path to family reunification.<\/p>\n\n
Entrusting All Families to Mary<\/b><\/p>\n\n
May Mary, Mother of all families\u2014who herself experienced exile with Joseph and the Child Jesus\u2014intercede for every family separated by borders. May she inspire us with the courage to reject indifference and to walk boldly the path of compassion and justice.<\/p>\n\n
I entrust this intention to your prayers and assure you of my own. May God bless you and keep you in His love.<\/b><\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n\n
\u2720 Christian L\u00e9pine<\/b><\/em> Download the Archbishop’s pastoral letter (PDF)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n
\nArchbishop of Montreal<\/p>\n\n