Acta Francisci Pp. 1031

In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their

dream of building a future in freedom. We, the people of this continent,

are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.

I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you

are also descended from immigrants. Tragically, the rights of those who

were here long before us were not always respected. For those peoples and

their nations, from the heart of American democracy, I wish to reaffirm my

highest esteem and appreciation. Those first contacts were often turbulent

and violent, but it is difficult to judge the past by the criteria of the present.

Nonetheless, when the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not

repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as

nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn

their back on our "neighbors" and everything around us. Building a nation

calls us to recognize that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a

mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiarity, in a

constant effort to do our best. I am confident that we can do this.

Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the

Second World War. This presents us with great challenges and many hard

decisions. On this continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel

north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones,

in search of greater opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own

children? We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view

them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying

to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which

is always humane, just and fraternal. We need to avoid a common tempta-

tion nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome. Let us remember

the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".2

This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the

same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us

seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us

help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if

we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we

want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for

others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule

2 Mt 7:12.