Eighty European mayors gathered at the headquarters of the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences on December 9 and 10 for a conference on the theme
of “Europe: refugees are our brothers and sisters.”At the conclusion of the meeting, the mayors called for the formation of a “network of mayors” to “promote solutions for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in terms of forced labor and prostitution, and organ trafficking.”
“Following the message of Christ, being European also means recognizing each person’s human dignity and freedom, with peace as the supreme good,” they stated.
“The great cities of Europe – as well as those of the Americas and Asia – which now face the worst crisis of displacement since World War II, must continue to collaborate in good faith, trust, hope, friendship, harmony and justice, to embrace humanity, integration and solidarity,” the mayors added, as they called for “safe and regular humanitarian corridors within the European Union.”