In a few days, Pope Francis will address our nation, carrying a message of hope, particularly for those who live on the margins of our society — the poor, the dispossessed, the immigrant and the refugee. His historic visit is an opportunity to catalyze new efforts to respond to the world refugee crisis and to reenergize the currently stalled efforts to fix our broken immigration system.

The plight of Syrian refugees trying to reach Europe, with the contrasting responses of rejection and welcome, has captured the world’s attention in recent days. We identify with the hopes and aspirations of parents seeking a safe place to raise their kids. Catholics and evangelicals who follow Jesus, who fled the persecution of Herod and was Himself a refugee, are called by God to open our hearts to the persecuted.

Read the full article at The Hill.