Bishop of Coimbra slams villains who promise paradise to the poorest

On Tuesday, the Bishop of Coimbra criticised evildoers who “promise paradise to the poorest on the outskirts of the world” and warned of cases where the community becomes a place of discrimination and work a means of exploitation.

“The world knows that there are many hidden faces who, without a twinge of conscience, promise paradise to the poorest on the outskirts of the world. And for a few thousand euros or dollars, those faces who initially present themselves as good Samaritans end their lives. Because they turn out to be the faces of cruel criminals who abandon men, women and children lying on the side of the road or leave them to their fate in the waves of the sea, without hope and without a future, a prelude to death or at least to a conflict with the harsh reality that awaits them on the beach,” said Virgilio Antunes at the Sanctuary of Fatima.

At the final Mass of the August international pilgrimage, which is part of the national pilgrimage of migrants and refugees, the vice-president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference said that today “continues to be marked by Portuguese migrations.”

“The need for unwanted changes also persists among our youth, whether for reasons of study, research, work in more favorable conditions or the search for a realization that is more in line with their ideals in life,” said Virgilio Antunes.

The prelate reminded the approximately 50,000 participants in the celebration that while there are immigrants who choose the country “for the same reasons that drive the Portuguese to leave,” many others do so to “escape the scourge of poverty or war and in search of new opportunities in life,” warning that for them “uprooting and entering a new reality is the cause of many difficulties.”

“Those who come to us also have to face the novelty of the unknown, the unexplored in a foreign country, which is always a source of fear and, often, great loneliness,” he continued.

In his homily, the Bishop of Coimbra also mentioned the image of the house, stressing that it is “a dignified and necessary home, essential for family life,” but it also signifies “entry into society, mutual acceptance and respect.”

“How many times do we hear migrants say: ‘I already have a home, I already have a job, I already know people I love and who love me well, I am already integrated, I already feel at home, I am already home.’ However, we also know that if we wait, sometimes this does not happen. The home, the society, becomes a place of rejection, the community sometimes becomes a place of discrimination, and work often becomes a means of exploitation.” , highlighted.

The chairman of the pilgrimage also stressed that everyone needs light, and “the light of God goes forward,” and its reflections “must be the light not only of people, but also of states, organizations, institutions that accompany, protect, help open horizons of hope for the most vulnerable segments of the population, such as exiles, refugees and migrants.”

Regarding the sanctuary of which he was rector, the bishop of the Diocese of Coimbra noted that Fatima “continues to be a stronghold of faith for migrants, a place of prayer and gratitude,” asking Our Lady to help “put an end to wars” and “build peace throughout the world.”

The Mass, celebrated by four bishops and 90 priests, saw the wheat offering tradition, begun 84 years ago, carried out.

According to the sanctuary, 5,635 kilograms of wheat and 477 kilograms of flour were offered last year. That year, approximately 13,539 medium hosts, 410 large hosts, 659 thousand particles and 480 particles for celiacs were consumed.