Reading about Alphonse’s experiences helped me understand why having the “right” narrative is so important. Alexander mentions, “Alphonse’s narrative hit all the right keys for caseworkers: His village in the DRC had been ravaged by war, many of his family members were killed, many of his peers had been forced to serve as soldiers, and his only possible future was one of military conscription” (Alexander, 2017). Even with such a story, Alphonse like many other immigrants, still was at risk of being deported.

I was interested in understanding the social reasons that the EU and many other countries accept so few migrants. In an article by The Economist, called Faced with exploitation of migrants, the flock, not the church, looks away, the author explains the impact and the stigma that religion can create when it comes to a social issue such as migration. The Pope has been very open to creating a home for refugees in Italy, however when one looks at the conditions of migrants and refugees some describe it as “slave like” conditions. Individuals are living in camps called “ghettos” working for a wage of a few Euros a week. Even when institutions such as the church promote a pro migrant dialogue, it seems as though conditions and the life of migrants do not improve. Perhaps it is a matter of being too afraid to follow through, or take a more concrete stand. In some cases, there are a number of priest in south Italy who are not supportive of the large influx of migrants. I think The Pope could play a large role in understanding these priests’ perspective and explaining the need for inclusion. I believe if there was a universal dialogue the church can have a huge impact on the treatment of migrants in Italy and beyond.

ERASMUS. “Faced with Exploitation of Migrants, the Flock, Not the Church, Looks Away.” The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 10 Mar. 2017. Web. 21 Mar. 2017.