Pope Salutes Colombia for Granting Protection to Venezuelan Migrants

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Feb 15, 2021 12:37 AM EST

(Photo : Tomohiro Ohsumi)
Pope Francis (L) walks with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) as he arrives at the prime minister's official residence on November 25, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.

Amid the turmoil different countries are facing, humanity still has hope. It is evident when the Colombian government grants protection to Venezuelan migrants, making Pope Francis hail and salute the nation for doing the initiative. The movement the Colombian government has initiated is in line with the Pope's encouragement to people in expressing their gratitude towards the migrants who fled due to economic hardships and with hopes to start a new life.

AP News shares that Colombian President Ivan Duque notes that Venezuelan migrants illegally in their land will be eligible for a 10-year resident permit. Meanwhile, they add that migrants who are on a temporary residence may extend their stay.

Pope Francis on Colombia

On behalf of the migrants, ABC News notes that Pope Francis expresses his gratitude for the country's bravery, noting that Colombia is also experiencing their troubles when it comes to development, poverty, and peace.

Pope Francis shares with Republic World that he always looks with gratitude at the efforts of those who work hand in hand on behalf of the migrants., which according to AP News, was announced publicly in St. Peter's Square. Republic World furthers that the Pope is eager to join the bishops in Colombia in expressing recognition for the country's decision. He furthers that it would allow Venezuelans to be welcomed, protected, and integrated.

Colombia's Helping Hand

According to ABC News, the ten-year protection statute will be enjoyed by 1.8 million Venezuelan migrants that will allow them to stay and apply for permanent residency. They also add that Venezuelan migrants hope the policy will make it easier for them to obtain work and access social services.

President Duque shares with The Guardian that migration crises are defined as humanitarian crises. He adds that they have close to a million migrants in their country whose government has no idea with their names. The Guardian also notes that Colombia is one of the most popular destinations of the more than four million Venezuelans who have fled their country.

Duque points out in AP News that they are hoping that other countries will make them an example as Colombia tries to take this historic and unprecedented step for Latin America. He also adds that registering undocumented Venezuelan migrants will also benefit their country's security agencies and make social services, including coronavirus vaccines, more efficient.

The Guardian shares that apart from the Pope, humanitarian organizations and foreign governments also celebrated Colombia's movement, like the United States expressing their support to Colombia, as they also expand their humanitarian programs worldwide. This was done through a Twitter post from Secretary Anthony Blinken.

With the Pope's recognition in the movements like what the Colombian government made for Venezuelan migrants, we hope that more countries will follow what they did. It is evident that mercy and compassion still reign in the heart of people.