VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Wednesday said he prefers using the term ''migrant people'' rather than ''migrants'' because the latter is an adjective while people is a noun. Speaking at a General Audience on Wednesday, the pontiff criticized the ''culture of the adjective'': ''We use many adjectives and often forget nouns, or substance. An adjective should be associated to a noun, a person - not migrants but a migrant person'', noted the pontiff, urging for respect.
Talking about his recent trip to Morocco, Francis said he devoted particular attention to the migration issue, both while talking to authorities and at a meeting dedicated to migrants.
''Some of them - he said - spoke about how life changes when they migrate and returns human'' when they find a welcoming community, which is ''fundamental''.
The pontiff noted that last December the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was signed in Marrakech, Morocco - an important step for the international community to take responsibility.
He said the Holy See had offered its contribution, which can be summed up in four verbs - ''welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating''.
''He said the idea was not to provide assistance ''from above'' but to ''walk together'' through these four actions ''to build cities and countries which, while preserving their respective cultural and religious identities, are open to differences and know how to give them value in the sign of human brotherhood''. The Church in Morocco is working for migrants, he said, thanking it and encouraging the generosity of those who provide assistance by following the words of Jesus Christ: ''I was a stranger and you welcomed me''.
