On his visit to Marseille last week, Pope Francis decried the “fanaticism of indifference” on the plight of migrants who risk their lives—and all too often lose them—in the attempt to reach Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.

“The exploitation of migrants is criminal” as is their detention, Pope Francis told reporters in August, and “I am going to Marseille for this.”

How Catholic Charities’ mission and Catholic identity is informing their work on the ground.

To this day, my best friends are people I grew up with on Staten Island. But I am ashamed of how some members of my community have reacted to the recent arrival of migrants.

According to the mayor’s office, more than 104,000 migrants have arrived in New York since the spring of 2022. Many went straight to Catholic Charities for help.

The United States needs to repent and believe. Until then, there will be no justice for immigrants, neither here nor in their home countries.