VATICAN CITY (RNS) — When Pope Francis visits the southern French city of Marseille this weekend (Sept. 22-23), he is expected to deliver an appeal for welcoming migrants and refugees — not just to France, but to anyone in the world listening.Migration “represents a challenge that is not easy, as we can see from recent news,” the pope said while announcing his trip during his weekly prayer service on Sunday. “But we must face it together because it is essential for the future of us all. We will only be prosperous if we build on fraternity, prioritizing human dignity and real people — especially those most in need.”
The pope will be in Marseille to attend the Mediterranean Meetings, a Catholic-sponsored gathering of 60 religious representatives from different cultures, backgrounds and countries in the Mediterranean area. The event has taken place twice in previous years in Italy but this year a group of 60 young people will also be present.
The pope’s 30-hour trip to France’s second largest city makes a greater point about Francis’ determination to prioritize people on the margins. During an exchange with journalists on the papal flight returning from his trip to Mongolia Aug. 31-Sept.4, the pope stressed that he is specifically …
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