After acknowledging that he always looks with gratitude to those who assist migrants, Pope Francis on Sunday praised efforts being made by Colombian authorities to grant temporary protection for Venezuelan migrants who have fled their homeland’s economic hardships. “I join the Bishops of Columbia in expressing gratitude to the Colombian authorities for implementing the temporary protection statute for Venezuelan migrants present in that country, fostering welcoming, protecting and integrating,” Pope Francis said after his weekly Angelus prayer. By Inés San Martín. Full Text-> Crux

Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, sent a message to the participants in the initiative, “Charity at the border”, in the Colombian Diocese of Cucuta, bordering Venezuela. It concluded with a renewed commitment by all to assist both the migrants and the local communities spiritually and materially. By Robin Gomes. Full text-> Vatican News