Boston Mayor Marty Walsh arrived Monday in Rome ahead of a Vatican conference Tuesday and Wednesday on climate change and human trafficking.
Walsh, arriving in Rome, was greeted by headlines in Italian newspapers blaring news of the latest migrant arrivals. The symposium themes — climate change and human trafficking — are directly related to what many Italians lament as an interminable crisis: mass migration.
Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which organized the symposiums bringing together mayors from around the globe, echoed the analysis of Pope Francis: In a statement to WGBH News, he says climate change puts more people into poverty, which forces more people to migrate and, in turn, makes them more vulnerable to forced labor and trafficking.
Walsh says it’s an issue being faced by politicians worldwide.
"I think that's probably one of the conversations we're going to have," Walsh said. "The U.S. and Italy aren't the only two countries represented here that are having these issues. I think it's a common theme at the table."
Riding in coach and shaking off jetlag, Walsh walked off the Alitalia plane and was greeted by Italian police. The Mayor and a tiny contingent of staff were quickly escorted through security and whisked off to their hotel. A press conference that was to be held this afternoon was cancelled with the mayor choosing to spend the time preparing for Tuesday and Wednesday’s symposiums.
Pope Francis is expected to comment again on these issues when he makes an appearance at the conclusion of Tuesday’s symposium.
