Pope Francis’ Palm Sunday message: Don’t abandon refugees

Uplifting the poor and marginalized has been a central aspect of Francis’ papacy.

Last June, he reminded the world that Jesus was a refugee. In an address to members of Congress two months later, he urged compassion and responsiveness to the plight of both refugees and undocumented immigrants.

“We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome,” Francis told lawmakers in September.

On Friday, leaders of the European Union brokered a controversial deal with Turkey aimed at curbing the influx of migrants into EU countries like Greece, Germany and Sweden.

As of Sunday, migrants who reach the shores of EU countries from Turkey will be turned back to Turkey, according to the agreement. In exchange, Turkey will receive financial incentives and support for its bid for EU membership.