Vatican Diplomat Concerned Over Resurgence Of Racism

The Vatican’s representative to the United Nations has voiced concern over reports that racism and xenophobia are on the rise across the globe, some of which is politically motivated, reported Vatican Radio.

Archbishop Bernardito Auza told the U.N. General Assembly on Nov. 3 that “progress on eliminating racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia is at serious risk of being eroded, sometimes intentionally.”

The Vatican diplomat said it is a grave cause for concern that there has been a marked increase in the number of racist and xenophobic incidents of violence, especially in the public sphere.

“This resurgence, in many instances politically motivated, seems to be driven by fear of the other, in particular, the fear in front of our responsibility to care for the marginalized and vulnerable, for those in desperate need of our compassion and solidarity,” he said.