"Sin against migrants": Pope introduces seven new sins in Catholic teaching

Pope Francis with migrants. Photo: Reuters

During a penitential prayer in Rome on October 1, Pope Francis introduced seven new sins into Catholic teaching, among which he paid special attention to the "sin against migrants," reports Frontieresmedia. These new sins were presented as part of preparations for the Synod dedicated to synodality, which will address governance in the Catholic Church.

During the ceremony, seven cardinals read each of the sins, which included: "sin against peace," "sin of abuses," "sin against women, family, and youth," "sin of doctrine used as stones to throw," "sin against poverty," "sin against conciliarity," and finally, "sin against creation, indigenous peoples, and migrants."

The message about the "sin against migrants" was especially notable, with the text read by Canadian Cardinal Czerny, known for his progressive views: “With a sense of shame, I ask forgiveness for having participated in the globalization of indifference to the tragedies that turn sea routes and borders between countries from pathways of hope into pathways of death for so many migrants. The value of a person always surpasses the value of borders,” he stated.

Pope Francis has often made migration a central theme of his sermons and statements, critically assessing nationalist governments, such as that of Hungary led by Viktor Orbán, and accusing them of "selfishness" and "poor Christianity" toward migrants.

As reported by the UOJ, Italian media have published investigations alleging that Pope Francis and the head of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Zuppi, have funded illegal migration.

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