The Scalabrinian Foundation remains committed to addressing the challenges of the contemporary world with courage and empathy, bringing hope to those in dire need. Responding to an appeal from the Archdiocese of Panama, Scalabrinian sisters and fathers embarked on a new mission, establishing a humanitarian presence in Panama from June 2024. This initiative began with active communication channels and culminated in participation at the “Continental Seminar – Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons: the Cries of the Vulnerable, Hopes, and Responses in a Time of Synodality,” held from July 11 to 14, 2024, in Panama City. The event brought together various religious congregations, reaffirming their commitment to aid vulnerable groups, including women, men, children, and adolescents, traversing the dangerous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama.
The Harrowing Journey of the Darién Gap
The Darién Gap, an infamous stretch of dense tropical forest, serves as a dangerous checkpoint for migrants seeking refuge in the United States. In 2023, over 500,000 people from Latin America, Africa, and Asia navigated this harsh terrain. This formidable jungle, inaccessible to vehicles and teeming with wildlife, treacherous swamps, and swift rivers, subjects migrants to an average of 7–10 days of grueling travel. Devoid of basic necessities like food and clean water, migrants face exposure to the elements and insect bites, risking serious illness or injury.
Compounding the struggles faced by migrants, recent measures by the Panamanian government have intensified the urgency for humanitarian response. During the seminar, news broke of newly closed migration routes along the Colombian border, further jeopardizing the safety of those crossing. Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized these restrictions, remarking, “Migration does not stop with barbed wire,” and condemning Panama’s justification of protecting migrants as an inadequate excuse masking a severe human rights infringement. The statistics are sobering: in the first months of 2024, over 30,000 children traversed the Darién Gap—a staggering 40% increase from the previous year. A haunting phrase found inscribed on an old Spanish fortress in Colombia encapsulates the desperation: “When you enter the Darién, entrust yourself to Mary: the entrance is in your hands, the exit in God’s.”
Seminar Resolutions and Future Directions
The seminar concluded with several significant recommendations in response to the evolving migration crisis. Foremost, migrants were reaffirmed as a theological place in which Christ can be served, emphasizing the transformative power of this mission. It was seen as a call to serve and an opportunity to be spiritually enriched by those enduring the Paschal mystery.
A strong condemnation was expressed regarding the violation of migrants’ human rights along these perilous routes. Corruption and exploitation that capitalize on the vulnerabilities of migrants were denounced, alongside a critique of states and leaders failing in their duty to provide protection.
However, amid these grim realities, the seminar renewed calls for hope and active compassion. Participants advocated for practices of hospitality and respect for those seeking safety and better lives. They highlighted that no one should be a stranger within the Church of God, and any practices opposing this sentiment were firmly rejected. Furthermore, religious communities and churches were urged to collaborate, studying migration issues in depth and engaging directly in welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants.
A Collective Call to Action
The seminar underscored the essential role of religious and humanitarian organizations in fostering collective, compassionate responses to migration challenges. The Scalabrinian Foundation has answered this call, committing to bolster their efforts and contribute to an expanding “We,” echoing Pope Francis’ appeal to eradicate indifference. He envisions a Church where migrants feel embraced, unjudged, and able to satisfy their basic needs while rekindling hope: “…when a migrant brother or sister arrives, they find in the Church a place where they do not feel judged but welcomed; where they can satisfy their hunger and thirst, and rekindle hope.”
This renewed dedication symbolizes a profound response rooted in faith and unity, aiming to ensure the most vulnerable find refuge and a path forward.
