World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The Latest

In 2023, over half a million migrants headed toward the United States crossed the Darien Gap, the inhospitable jungle region between Colombia and Panama.

Pope Francis’ message for migrants and refugees

Jun 3, 2024

By Pope Francis

The Holy See Press Office released today Pope Francis’ message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus address on Sept. 24, 2023.

Pope Francis: It’s never ‘too late’ to receive God’s love

Sep 24, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope spoke one day after he gave a strong condemnation of euthanasia on his return flight from Marseille, France. Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with local religious leaders at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis in Marseille: It’s ‘a duty of humanity’ to save migrants abandoned at sea

Sep 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“We can no longer watch the drama of shipwrecks, caused by the cruel trafficking and the fanaticism of indifference,” the... Read more

Migrants in Greece.

Pope Francis urges freedom in message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 

May 11, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis has expressed the importance of a migrant’s freedom to make the “decision to leave one’s native land.” Read more

Crowds attend a town hall meeting on immigration in Los Angeles, Jan. 14, 2014. Photo courtesy of Victor Aleman/vida-nueva.com.

U.S. bishops hold National Migration Week amid migrant crisis

Sep 16, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The U.S. bishops are inviting Catholics to participate in National Migration Week and the World Day of Migrants and Refugees... Read more

Pope Francis visits a reception center for asylum seekers in Castelnuovo di Porto, Italy, on March 24, 2016.

Pope Francis: Migrants and refugees have ‘enormous potential’ to help society

May 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope made the comment in his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2022. Read more

Pope Francis waves during the Angelus on Sept. 26, 2021

Pope Francis: The Catholic Church must be welcoming

Sep 26, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Division and exclusion come from Satan, Pope Francis warned. Read more

Afghan refugees are being processed inside Hangar 5 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Sept. 8, 2021.

USCCB, Catholic Charities ramp up efforts to welcome Afghan refugees

Sep 23, 2021

By Autumn Jones

Over the next several months, the USCCB and Catholic Charities locations across the U.S. will welcome upwards of 7,500 refugees... Read more

Pope Francis greets children in the San Damaso Courtyard during the puppet Little Amal’s visit to the Vatican, Sept. 10, 2021.

Pope Francis welcomes giant puppet to Vatican

Sep 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

The 11-foot-tall puppet symbolizes unaccompanied refugee children. Read more

Pope Francis washes the feet of migrants and refugees during Holy Thursday Mass March 24, 2016.

Pope Francis: Migrants bearing brunt of ‘aggressive’ nationalism and ‘radical individualism’

May 6, 2021

The pope made the comment in his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Read more

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

Catholics in Los Angeles invited to prayer and pilgrimage for migrants, refugees

Sep 16, 2020

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is inviting Catholics to join in a novena and to watch Masses online this weekend... Read more

Refugee children at the Sharia Al Haman Hope Refugee Camp in Duhok, Iraq on March 28, 2015.

Iraq’s suffering will ‘rise sharply’ in wake of coronavirus, priest says

May 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The number of people in need of help with basic necessities in Iraq, already in the millions, is expected to... Read more

 The World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be observed Sept. 27, 2020.

Pope Francis says plight of displaced people is an ‘unseen tragedy’ amid pandemic

May 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The coronavirus crisis is an opportunity to reflect more on how we can help the most vulnerable around us, including... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Sept. 29, 2019.

At Mass for Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis says world is increasingly elitist

Sep 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Sunday with a message that the world is... Read more

Pope Francis greets migrants at a welcome center near Cesena, Italy, Oct. 1, 2017.

Migrants are a foil to growing 'globalization of indifference,' pope says

May 27, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a society of growing individualism and indifference, the presence of migrants and refugees prompts a realization of the need... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square after the Wednesday general audience, June 1, 2016.

'Arbitrary expulsions' won't solve the migration crisis, Pope says

Aug 21, 2017

By Elise Harris

In his message for the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis outlined a four-step vision for responding... Read more

Pope Francis washes the feet of migrants and refugees during Holy Thursday Mass March 24, 2016.

Pope points to Mother Cabrini as prime model in caring for migrants

Jan 15, 2017

By Elise Harris

On the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis pointed to St. Frances Cabrini as an example of how... Read more

A CRS tent aiding refugees and migrants in Europe.

For Cardinal Vegliò, closing the door to migrants isn't Christian

Oct 13, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Thursday the Vatican’s longtime point-man on the topic of migration said that the issue is an urgent one that... Read more

Pope Francis visits the Brazilian community of Varginha July 25, 2013.

Every migrant has a story and culture of value, Pope Francis says

Jan 17, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis offered special greetings to 6,000 migrants and refugees who were gathered in S. Peter’s Square, telling... Read more

Young refugees play games as they wait for Pope Francis to visit in Istanbul, Turkey on Nov. 30, 2014.

To welcome a migrant is to welcome God himself, Pope says

Oct 1, 2015

By Elise Harris

In his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Pope Francis recognized the challenges involved with welcoming migrants,... Read more