Pope Benedict XVI marked World Immigrant and Refugee Day on Sunday with a call for immigrants to be welcomed "with sympathy." Speaking at the end of his Angelus sermon, the Roman Catholic pontiff called on young immigrants and their parents to help "build a more just society ... and respect the laws" of their host populations.
"I want to express my appreciation to all of those help young immigrants and their families with their integration into school and into the world of work," he said.
"My dear young immigrants, cooperate with others of your own age in building a more just and fraternal society, perform your duties and never let yourself be carried away by violence," he continued.
"So many young people, for various reasons, live far from their families and their countries," he added.
"Young girls and minors are particularly at risk. Some children and infants are born and grow up in refugee camps. They also have a right to a future."
Also on Sunday, Pope Benedict for the first time celebrated a public mass by turning his back on worshippers -- an ancient tradition that he officially resurrected six months ago.
During a baptism ceremony for 13 offspring of Vatican employees in the Sistine Chapel, the pope "from time to time turned his back on the faithful and contemplated the cross," his office said.
His office specified that Pope Benedict had conducted the service in Italian, despite authorizing, last July, a return to the use of Latin in masses -- to the jubilation of traditionalists and dismay of modernizers.
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