VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Taking to heart the lesson of the parable of the good Samaritan is the key to assisting the millions of migrants and refugees forced to travel far from their homelands and often exploited along the way, Pope Francis said.
"The road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho was not a safe route, just as today the many migration routes that traverse deserts, forests, rivers and seas are not safe," the pope said Oct. 19 as he led members of the synod on synodality in praying for migrants and refugees.
"How many of our brothers and sisters find themselves today in the same condition as the traveler in the parable?" the pope asked. "How many are robbed, stripped and beaten along the way?"
The evening prayer service took place around "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, that has stood in St. Peter's Square since 2019. The bronze boat is filled with 140 figures depicting migrants from various historical periods and various nations.
Staff from the dicastery, a refugee from Cameroon and a refugee from Ukraine read the prayers at the service.
In his reflection, Pope Francis called for the reform of immigration policies to increase regular, legal channels for migration, recognizing national economic and demographic policies, but always putting "the most vulnerable at the center."
Pope Francis told those at the prayer service that while it is easy to look the other way -- or walk on the other side of the road as characters in the parable did -- the Gospel calls Christians "to be neighbors to all the wayfarers of our time, to save their lives, to heal their wounds and to soothe their pain."
A cross stands in front of "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. Pope Francis and members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops gathered to pray for migrants and refugees around the sculpture, which depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
A cross stands in front of "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. Members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops joined Pope Francis to pray for migrants and refugees around the sculpture, which depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
A detail from "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, is seen in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. Members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops joined Pope Francis to pray for migrants and refugees around the sculpture, which depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
A chair for Pope Francis stands in front of "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. Members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops joined Pope Francis to pray for migrants and refugees around the sculpture, which depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope Francis waits for members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops before a prayer service for migrants and refugees in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope Francis and members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops pray for migrants and refugees in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope Francis leads members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in praying for migrants and refugees in front of the statue, "Angels Unawares," in St. Peter's Square Oct. 19, 2023. The sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis prays with members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops for migrants and refugees in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. Behind the pope is "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, depicting a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope Francis leads members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops in praying for migrants and refugees in front of the statue, "Angels Unawares," in St. Peter's Square Oct. 19, 2023. The sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, depicts a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis shares a moment of silence with members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the end of a prayer for migrants and refugees in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 19, 2023. The service took place around "Angels Unawares," a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz, depicting a boat with 140 figures of migrants from various historical periods and various nations. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
