June 21, 06

Benedict XVI Speaks Up for Refugees' Rights

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 18, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appealed to Christian communities to respect the rights of refugees and respond to their needs.

The Holy Father made his request today after reciting the midday Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, two days before the observation of the U.N. World Refugee Day.

Speaking from the window of his study, the Pope called the international community's attention to "the conditions of so many people, forced to flee from their own lands because of grave forms of violence."

The Pontiff expressed the hope "that the rights of these people will always be respected" and encouraged "ecclesial communities to respond to their needs."

The 2005 report of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, published this month, reflects a reduction in the number of refugees worldwide. Their number fell from 9.5 million in 2004 to 8.4 million in 2005.

The U.N. report explained, however, that the number has increased of people who live in situations similar to that of refugees, but in their own countries. About 6.6 million people in 16 countries were displaced within their national borders because of conflicts, up from 5.4 million in 13 countries at year-end 2004.