According to the Gospel, Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of welcoming and integrating migrants.

The Pope has emphasized the importance of welcoming, encouraging, and integrating migrants as Europe and the United States grapple with unprecedented levels of global mass migration, citing the Gospel.

The pope, a staunch supporter of asylum seekers, refugees, and economic migrants, stated that many migrants are subjected to the "drama of forced migration" and embark on perilous sea voyages in pursuit of improved lives, which may result in tragedy.

On Wednesday, he stated that migrants are often exploited, rejected, abused, and reduced to slavery while traveling to the unknown.

The group ResQ, which aims to safeguard migrants and refugees in peril in the Mediterranean Sea, has its own 128-foot long rescue boat that helps them.

Pope Francis stated, "We welcome those who not only observe but also actively participate in helping migrants by offering their time, creativity, and resources to ease their suffering, save them, welcome them, and integrate them."

"The migrant should be welcomed, accompanied, encouraged, and integrated. This generosity and industriousness align with the Gospel's call to do good to all people, especially the most vulnerable, such as the poor, sick, and abandoned."

The division of opinions in the West over the crisis is profound, as residents and governments struggle to balance the cost of housing and feeding migrants with humanitarian concerns. For example, New York City spent $4.88 billion in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years on providing shelter, food, and other services to migrants.

The Pope stated that the migratory phenomenon's vastness and complexity often make it challenging for civil authorities to fulfill their responsibilities entirely.

"The Pope stated that the rescue of those in danger of sinking in miserable vessels is a very necessary task. Your organization's action aims to save lives, particularly the lives of people fleeing from places where serious conflicts rage, often triggering humanitarian crises and also involving the violation of fundamental human rights."

"May Mary, the helper of migrants, guide you in your work. I bless you and pray for your success."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations estimates that 6.5 million migrants migrated to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in 2023, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. However, due to a lack of comparable data in many regions, it is difficult to obtain an exact number of migrants who have left their countries of origin throughout the crisis.

The New York Times reported that the total net migration during the Biden administration is expected to surpass 8 million people, according to Congressional Budget Office data. The financial strain caused by the crisis has affected federal, state, and local finances.

The pope has previously urged nations to welcome migrants.

Last year, at a Vatican gathering, he commended an initiative that established "humanitarian corridors" for refugees to safely enter Europe.

All countries benefit from safe, orderly, regular, and sustainable migration, as stated by Pope Francis.

The initiative, led by the Sant’Egidio Catholic charity, Federation of Evangelical Churches, and Waldensian Church, has facilitated the transfer of over 6,000 people from Italy to Europe since 2016.

In refugee camps, aid workers under a program identify asylum candidates and process initial paperwork to bring them into Italy on humanitarian grounds. Upon arrival, they receive assistance to settle and apply for asylum.

The Catholic Church holds that secular governments must fulfill two responsibilities when managing immigration and providing refugee status to outsiders within their borders.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a detailed explanation of the church's beliefs on theological and social matters.

The primary responsibility is to "welcome the foreigner out of compassion and respect for the human being," as it is the government's obligation to "accommodate the right to immigrate to the greatest extent possible, especially for financially prosperous nations."

The second responsibility, as per secular governments' obligation to safeguard their citizens and promote a healthy community, is to safeguard the border and enforce the law for the common good.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.