In the Cathedral of Agrigento, Italy, the manger scene this year will be without the three wise men. Instead, there is a sign that reads, “Please be advised that this year the baby Jesus will be without gifts. The Magi will not arrive because they were turned back at our borders with the other immigrants.”
The archdiocese of Agrigento is making a statement about the controversy in Italy over illegal immigration.
The creche without the Magi is an idea of the director of Caritas, Valerio Landri, with the awareness and concurrence apparently of the Archbishop Francesco Montenegro who is the Italian national president of Caritas. They are hoping it give people pause to think about the whole issue of immigration. The article in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, states (my translation): “… today the baby Jesus, if he wished to come to us, probably would be turned back at our borders. We do not intend to create a political controversy, and we are aware that it is necessary to manage our borders, but we are convinced that it is necessary to understand that these people are fleeing their own countries and thus need acceptance.”
You can read it in its entirety (sorry, in italian only) at: www.palermo.repubblica.it/dettaglio/agrigento-il-presepe-senza-i-magi-li-hanno-bloccati-alla-frontiera/1820984
The whole issue of immigration is not just an American phenomenon. It is affecting Europe too. It is not going to go away. How we justly embrace these people will shape our society for generations.
They are are brothers and sisters in Christ.
