Almost 40 years ago, St Pope John Paul II, an outstanding defender of human rights, described the refugee problem as “a truly shameful wound of our time”. The Holy Father pronounced himself to this effect on June 25, 1982, while addressing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Poul Hartling of Denmark, who was visiting him at the Vatican. At the time, there were from 10 to 15 million refugees throughout the world. Today, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order is estimated to have risen to around 85 million. Meanwhile, so many young soldiers and innocent civilians continue to be nailed to the cross of devastating insane wars and conflicts. So many sorrowful and traumatised mothers, wives and children continue to mourn the wasted lives of their loved ones. Way back in 1992, when about 90 per cent of refugees were found in Third World countries and on the watch of Pope John Paul II, the Holy See offered to the whole world a far-looking down-to-earth document entitled, Refugees: A Challenge to Solidarity. The aim of the document was to revive...