"PROCLAIMED TO ALL"

Guided by the Holy Spirit, he [St, Paul] spared no effort to see that the Gospel ... was proclaimed to all, making no distinction of nationality or culture.

"A SINGLE PEOPLE" IN JESUS

His [St. Paul] life and his preaching were wholly directed to making Jesus known and loved by all, for all persons are called to become a single people in Him.

WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION

This is the mission of the Church and of every baptized person in our time too... a mission that with attentive pastoral solicitude is also directed to the variegated universe of migrants-- students far from home, immigrants, refugees, displaced persons, evacuees-- including for example, the victims of modern forms of slavery, and of human trafficking.

"THE SAME APPROACH"

Today too the message of salvation must be presented with the same approach as that of the Apostle to the Gentiles, taking into account the different social and cultural situations and special difficulties of each one as a consequence of his or her condition as a migrant or itinerant person.

"THE SAME APOSTOLIC ZEAL"

I express the wish that every Christian community may feel the same apostolic zeal as St. Paul... May his example also be an incentive for us to show solidarity to these brothers and sisters of ours and to promote, in every part of the world and by every means, peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions.

"LET US NOT TIRE"

Let us not tire of proclaiming and witnessing to this "Good News" with enthusiasm, without fear and sparing no energy! The entire Gospel message is condensed in love, and authentic disciples of Christ are recognized by the mutual love they bear one another by their acceptance of all.

(Source: Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 18, 2009, issued August 24, 2008)