Promoters of Justice and Peace in Europe speak out on migration and Gaza

From June 1 to 5, 2025, the Meeting of the Promoters of Justice and Peace of the Order of Preachers in Europe was held in Vienna, Austria. During this gathering, the participants engaged in deep reflection on several urgent issues concerning justice, peace, and human dignity. As a result of their deliberations, they issued two statements: one addressing the current state of migration in Europe, and the other responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Promoters of Justice and Peace in Europe speak out on migration and Gaza

From June 1 to 5, 2025, the Meeting of the Promoters of Justice and Peace of the Order of Preachers in Europe was held in Vienna, Austria. During this gathering, the participants engaged in deep reflection on several urgent issues concerning justice, peace, and human dignity. As a result of their deliberations, they issued two statements: one addressing the current state of migration in Europe, and the other responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In their statement on migration, the Promoters stress that migration is not merely a political challenge but a profoundly human one. They express grave concern over the systematic exploitation of migrant labor and voice alarm at recent developments within the European Union that seek to restrict or dismantle the right to asylum. In this context, they call for policies that uphold the inherent dignity of every person. They affirm that European migration policy must take into account the hopes and aspirations of migrants, not solely the interests of states, and insist that migrants—regardless of race, religion, or gender—must be given a voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.

In their statement on Gaza, the Promoters acknowledge the immense complexity of the current conflict, which has resulted in the tragic loss of countless innocent lives. They urge all parties to approach political narratives with discernment and caution, call for advocacy in favor of an immediate and mutual ceasefire, and encourage active support for humanitarian relief efforts. Emphasizing that peace cannot be achieved through violence but must be built through dialogue, they call for the promotion, support, and participation in initiatives that foster mutual understanding and reconciliation. They underline the need for close cooperation with civil society in launching a comprehensive, long-term peacebuilding strategy.

The official statements of the European Promoters of Justice and Peace on migration and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza follow below.

Statement on Gaza

Meeting of the Promotors of Justice and Peace, Order of Preachers – Europe Vienna, 1–5 June 2025

Preamble

We recognize the immense complexity of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has led to the tragic loss of countless innocent

lives. What follows are reflections we wish to share with you, drawn from our recent Justice and Peace meeting in Vienna.

1. Be Critical of Political Narratives

We urge you to approach political narratives with discernment and caution. All too often, these narratives are shaped by bias, oversimplifications, and prejudice. The situation in Gaza is profoundly complex, and we have no intention to enter into debate over political positions. Rather, we call for thoughtful awareness and critical engagement with the information presented.

2. Call for an Immediate Ceasefire

We appeal to you, in your ministry and public witness, to advocate for an immediate and mutual ceasefire. The ongoing violence has led to the death and suffering of countless human lives. We must not remain indifferent in the face of atrocities, including the killing of children and the targeting of hospitals and residential areas. These acts are inhumane and must be condemned. Raising awareness, calling for an end to violence and the release of hostages and prisoners is a moral obligation. Both peoples have a right of existence and co-existence.

3. Support Humanitarian Aid Efforts

We strongly encourage you to actively support and contribute to humanitarian aid initiatives. It is vital to raise awareness and advocate for the opening of humanitarian corridors to ensure that essential aid can reach those suffering in Gaza. Food, medical supplies, and shelter are urgently needed—our compassion must translate into concrete action.

4. Promote Dialogue as a Path to Peace

Peace cannot be imposed through violence—it must be built through dialogue. We urge you to promote, support and participate in initiatives that foster mutual understanding and reconciliation in cooperation with civil society to implement a global plan of long-term peace building. Every voice raised for peace adds to the possibility of a just and lasting resolution.

We also encourage our brothers and sisters involved in academia to research, discuss and share plans and visions for a sustainable, just and peaceful long-term solution of the conflict.

Conclusion

In times of darkness and ongoing genocide, our collective conscience must not grow silent. Let us continue to pray, act, and speak out for justice, peace, truth and the dignity of every human life.

Alessandro Cortesi Ivan Attard Antoine De la Fayolle

Province of St Catherine of Siena – Italy Province of Malta Province of France

Francis Amponsah Günter Reitzi Drago Ferencek

Province of Belgium-Netherlands Province of Germany-Austria Province of Croatia

Petro Balog Rui Manuel Philomena Benedict Le Gall

Province of Poland-Ukraine Province of Portugal Dominican Sisters Europe

Sabine Schratz Lara Kelly

Dominican Sisters Collaborator of the Dominican Sisters

Statement on Migration

Meeting of the Promotors of Justice and Peace, Order of Preachers – Europe Vienna, 1–5 June 2025

The Promotors of Justice and Peace of the Dominican Order in Europe reflected deeply on the theme of migration in relation to the economy. Our discussions were shaped by the conviction that migration must not be reduced to a question of policy alone, but must also recognize the aspirations, dignity, and lived realities of human beings.

Migration is not only a policy issue; it is a human issue. People move not merely as economic agents or political actors, but as individuals with hopes, struggles, and a desire for a meaningful life. The current framing of discussion about migration policies in the EU, however, often criminalizes poverty and the search for safety or opportunity.

We asked: Do our migration policies promote human dignity, or do they criminalise human movement?

We expressed deep concern over the systematic exploitation of migrant labour, especially where minimum wage structures allow for undervalued and precarious employment. As long as economic systems benefit from cheap labour while denying full protection, migration remains entangled with economic injustice. Also, the CCPCJ of the United Nations in Vienna condemned this situation of injustice.

We also noted with alarm recent developments in EU-level discussions aiming to restrict or dismantle the right to asylum, for example, the ‘push-back actions’ at the borders and other externalization practices. We believe that such shifts represent a moral and legal regression, undermining the principles of protection and solidarity that lie at the heart of international law and Christian teaching.

As agents of justice, we are called to advocate for policies that uphold the fullness of the human person, not merely their utility to the economy or their legal status. In line with with what Pope Francis said in Fratelli Tutti:

“Complex challenges arise when our neighbour happens to be an immigrant. Ideally, unnecessary migration ought to be avoided” (no. 129); yet to ban it outright is to deny people their basic rights when they lack safe and legal pathways.

We propose the following:

• European migration policy must integrate the aspirations of migrants, not only the interests of states.
• EU development aid should aim to strengthen livelihood resilience rather than reinforce border security.
• Policy co-design is essential: migrants, regardless of race, religion, or sex, must have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
• As Dominicans committed to truth and justice, we urge all stakeholders to resist simplistic narratives and pursue policies rooted in compassion and reality. A just and humane Europe listens, includes, and dignifies all people, especially those on the move.
• Migration is not just a matter of borders, but of belonging.

Alessandro Cortesi Ivan Attard Antoine De la Fayolle

Province of St Catherine of Siena – Italy Province of Malta Province of France

Francis Amponsah Günter Reitzi Drago Ferencek

Province of Belgium-Netherlands Province of Germany-Austria Province of Croatia

Petro Balog Rui Manuel Philomena Benedict Le Gall

Province of Poland-Ukraine Province of Portugal Dominican Sisters Europe

Sabine Schratz Lara Kelly

Dominican Sisters Collaborator of the Dominican Sisters

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