Pope Francis receiving a gift from Ukrainian refugee children at our shelter in Lviv. October 2024, - Belgium
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe joins in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His departure leaves an immeasurable void, yet his legacy of compassion, mercy, and unwavering advocacy for the most vulnerable among us—particularly migrants and refugees—will continue to guide our mission for generations to come.
“In these complex times, Pope Francis has read the signs of the times, helping the Church on this path of walking alongside the poor and humble Jesus, building bridges, promoting a culture of encounter and hospitality, denouncing injustices, seeking peace, welcoming with mercy, and promoted synodal processes that strengthened our sense of being one family on mission together,” said JRS Europe director Alberto Ares.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis consistently placed the plight of refugees and migrants at the center of the Church’s concern. His famous call to “welcome, protect, promote, and integrate” migrants has become the cornerstone of our work at JRS, providing us with a clear framework to address the complex challenges faced by those forced to flee their homes.
As he once said in a message to the Jesuit social apostolates: “Amongst the poor you have found a privileged place to encounter Christ. This is a precious gift in the life of the follower of Christ: to receive the gift of encountering him among the victims and the poor… Do not cease to offer such familiarity with the vulnerable. Our broken and divided world needs to build bridges so that the human encounter allows each of us to discover in the least ones the beautiful face of our brother.” (Message to Jesuit Social Apostolates, November 2019)
We are especially grateful for the care that Pope Francis has taken in welcoming and accompanying migrants and refugees during his visits to Europe. The encounter with our teams and the families we accompany has left a deep impression, as has been the case in Malta, Italy, Belgium or Greece, to give a few examples.
Sunday 5 December 2021 – JRS Greece
Through these visits, Pope Francis was not merely an observer but a participant in our mission. He listened to the stories of those we serve, offered words of comfort, and consistently challenged broader society to respond with greater compassion and concrete action.
At JRS Europe, we pledge to honor Pope Francis’s memory by redoubling our commitment to those forced to flee their homes. We invite all people of goodwill to join us in this mission—to see in the face of each migrant and refugee the face of Christ himself, and to respond with the same love and dedication that Pope Francis modeled throughout his life.
Thank you, Holy Father, for showing us the way. May God bless you, and may God bless us all as we strive to continue your legacy of compassionate service to the most vulnerable among us.
