Bishop Zsifkovics calls for new thinking for refugees and integration

Bishop Zsifkovics calls for new thinking for refugees and integration

The Burgenland bishop Aegidius Zsifkovics addresses urgent warnings to the political decision-makers in Austria: in view of the unstable Situation in Syria and the fall of the Assad regime, he calls for a rethinking of refugee policy and warns of hasty action. "The situation in Syria is still fragile," said the bishop in an interview with the Burgenland Volkszeitung . Zsifkovics emphasizes that it is crucial to keep an eye on the special needs of minorities, especially the Christians living there. He also criticizes the poor integration of refugees in Austria and demands that newly arrive persons respect the rule of law and agree on the Christian values in order to be accepted as part of society.

cultural roots and social responsibility

In another context, Zsifkovics encourages to follow the believers, the example of St. Martin at the diocesanizing in Tours, France. On the occasion of his 100-year-old patronal feast for Burgenland, he said: "Martin is a role model for a life from baptism and for sharing." He pointed out the importance of Christian values, especially at a time that is characterized by challenges such as selfishness and greed. "The message of sharing revolutionizes our life," said the bishop and appealed to the believers to become active in order to change the world for the better, including in his sermon in the Basilica of Tours, where it was about Martins and his message.

The pilgrimage, which not only led to Martin's grave, but also visited church sites in France, combines tradition with the current challenge of bringing faith to alive again in the digital age. "We have to beat the bridge between the church and the young generation and communicate our values in an understandable way," said Zsifkovics. The St. Martin can serve as a leading figure that reminds us of how important empathy and sharing are in today's society so that the legacy of our faith is not lost, he adds. This appeal applies not only to the people in Austria, but also to surrounding countries that should adhere to a common belief, as the bishop assures. ”