Pope Francis urges peace and understanding for migrants

Pope Francis marks the World Day of Peace by taking up the theme of the ongoing migrant crisis

Agence France-Presse

Published 9:40 PM, January 01, 2018

Updated 12:14 AM, January 02, 2018

WORLD DAY OF PEACE. Pope Francis delivers his message as he leads the holy mass to mark the world day of peace, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on January 1, 2018. Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on Monday, January 1, used his New Year homily to urge peace and understanding for migrants and refugees.

"Let us not extinguish hope in their hearts or smother their expectations of peace," the leader of the world's estimated 1.2 billion Catholics said, marking the Church's World Day of Peace before millions of worshippers braving a rainswept Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican.

Taking up the theme of the ongoing migrant crisis, the pontiff said they were "ready to risk their lives in their search for a peaceful future "which is a right for everyone" and which everyone should strive to ensure for all. – Rappler.com