SW News: More effort is needed to expand the existing migration routes to Europe, said Pope Francis on Saturday during his address while meeting migrants. They had arrived in Europe through the Humanitarian Corridor project.

The pope said that “safe, orderly and sustainable migration is always in the best interest of all countries”. He added saying that without recognizing this reality there is a risk of fear taking hold, negating the future of people and justifying the erection of barriers.

According to the pontiff, the Humanitarian Corridors allow hundreds of refugees who are escaping grave situations in their home countries to arrive safely, legally and with dignity in the nations that are willing to host them.

Pope Francis said, such acts “break down the walls of indifference that have shattered the hopes of so many people who have to wait for years in painful and unbearable situations.”

He said such projects offer a practical way to avoid the exploitation of migrants and refugees at the hands of human traffickers. Much more needs to be done to expand this network and bring in more refugees. He said that welcoming people is the future of Europe in order to avoid the frozen, fearful lack of vision for the future. “Withdrawing into oneself or into one’s culture is never the right way to give new hope.”

Pope Francis also stressed the importance of the integration of refugees and migrants into European society, adding that they have to be accompanied from the start to finish. “It is important to expend even greater attention and creativity in enabling those granted the opportunity to come to Europe to understand and appreciate what they will encounter here.” He also thanked all who have opened their hearts and homes to refugees, saying they represent a beautiful face of Europe.

The Humanitarian Corridor project is organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Table, and the Catholic Church in Italy.