By Rani Punnasseril
New Delhi, Oct 8, 2024: The Commission for Migrants of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) says Pope Francis has honored a Vatican official for his “unwavering commitment to serving the marginalized.”
Monsignor Fabio Baggio, Under Secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is among 21 new cardinals the Pope announced on October 6 in the Vatican.
“This prestigious appointment honours Msgr. Baggio’s and highlights Pope Francis’s dedication to recognizing those who have played pivotal roles in advancing the mission of the Church,” said the commission’s October 7 statement.
The 59-year-old Italian member of the Scalabrian Missionaries is known for supporting improved legal entrance for migrants and refugees.
Before starting his Vatican assignment 2017, the cardinal-elect had spent eight years as a missionary in Latin America and eight years in the Philippines.
CCBI commission’s executive secretary Father Jaison Vadassery, who has associated with the cardinal-elect, says Monsignor Baggio’s “deep compassion and dedication have been evident through his impactful work with migrant communities.”
The Indian priest recalled Monsignor’s visits in 2023 to the Myanmar refugees in Delhi and various migrant communities in Bengaluru.
The cardinal-elect served as a resource person at the March 12-14, 2023, national meet of regional secretaries of the CCBI migrant commission.
“These engagements strengthened our collective efforts to foster solidarity and support for migrants and refugees in India,” the statement said.
Father Vadassery also hailed the cardinal-elect as “a driving force behind key global initiatives, particularly his leadership in the Historical Exodus Programme.”
The February 12-17 “ground breaking initiative” in Manila was organized by the Vatican dicastery in collaboration with the commissions for migrants of the CCBI and the Philippines bishops’ conference Philippines. The program focused on the safe repatriation and rehabilitation of Indian migrants.
Monsignor Baggio’s efforts were instrumental in addressing the complex challenges faced by displaced persons and promoting a dignified response to the migrant crisis, the CCBI commission explained.
In his keynote address, the cardinal-elect stressed the importance of respecting the dignity and rights of migrants, regardless of their status or background.
“His powerful words resonated deeply with the audience, setting an inspiring tone for the training program. His advocacy for compassionate and inclusive policies underscored the Church’s moral responsibility toward the displaced and vulnerable,” the Indian commission said.
Monsignor’s guidance to the regional secretaries and bishops “ensured that their efforts aligned with the Church’s mission of protecting and uplifting those in need, helping to shape strategies that address the ever-evolving challenges faced by migrants and refugees,” it added.
The Indian commission expressed the confidence that the cardinal-elect’s leadership will further advance the Church’s global mission of advocating for the rights, dignity, and well-being of migrants and refugees.
“His work continues to inspire us all to foster greater compassion, justice, and solidarity,” said the CCBI while expressing its “profound gratitude to Pope Francis for his visionary appointments and for promoting leaders who embody the values of mercy, justice, and service to the most vulnerable.”
Monsignor Baggio was born on January 15, 1965, in Bassano del Grappa in the Italian province of Vicenza. He joined the Scalabrian Missionaries in 1976, studied at their seminary in his native city, and took his perpetual vows in 1991. He was ordained a priest in 1992.
While serving as a pastor in Santiago de Chile during 1995-1997, he was councillor to the migrations commission of the Episcopal Conference of Chile.
He was director of the migrations department of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires for five years from 1997.
During 1999-2010, he taught at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, the Institute of Theology of São Paulo, the University of Manila, and the Maryhill School of Theology in Quezon City, Philippines, where he was director of the Scalabrini Migration Center and of the Asian Pacific Migration Journal.
On August 26, 2021, he was named one of three members of the Vatican’s COVID-19 commission. On April 23, 2022, Pope Francis named him the sole undersecretary of his section and enlarged his responsibilities to include special projects.