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Press Releases
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4 April 2005
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Message from the President and Secretary General
of the International Catholic Migration Commission on the death
of His Holiness Pope John Paul II
The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) received
the news of the death of the Holy Father with great sadness.
John Paul II will be remembered for his integrity, his important
work in the proclamation of human dignity, his motivating and
repeated invitations to younger generations to come together and
pray together, his work for reconciliation, and his powerful example
that invites us all to share in prayer.
During the long years of his pontificate, John Paul II contributed
hugely to a new understanding of the need to bring about a civilization
of mercy and love.
ICMC will also remember John Paul II for his great compassion
on behalf of all uprooted people. His work for the uprooted was
grounded in the vision of human dignity based on the truth of
the human person created in the Image of God. We will remember
John Paul II's challenge to ICMC and all Christians in his message
for World Migration Day, 2005, and will continue to "listen
to the cry for help that comes from a multitude of migrants and
refugees ... and foster, with active commitment, prospects of
hope that will herald the dawn of a more open and supportive society".
ICMC is grateful for the important leadership of Pope John Paul
II, and for his repeated encouragement to us in our work. His
departure from this world brings the ICMC family and all believers
once again closer together. We therefore join in the worldwide
prayer that is now taking place, and invite all to share these
moments of profound grief and Christian hope.
Stefano Zamagni (Prof.), President
Johan Ketelers, Secretary General
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