migrants and refugees

The Latest

Dainelys Soto, Genesis Contreras, and Daniel Soto, who arrived from Venezuela after crossing the U.S. border from Mexico, wait for dinner at a hotel provided by the Annunciation House on Sept. 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas.

What does the Catholic Church teach about immigration and immigrants?

Sep 9, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Catholic Church has long been an advocate and protector of immigrants. Read more

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

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2021.

Texas attorney general targets Catholic nonprofit, alleges it facilitates illegal immigration

Feb 21, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to shut down a Catholic nonprofit organization in El Paso. Read more

Anya Safaryan (right), 78, who fled from Azerbaijan's controlled region of Nagorno-Karabakh, sits on a bed at a sports complex set up as a temporary shelter in the Armenian city of Artashat on Oct. 8, 2023.

‘Sadness in our hearts’: Armenian Christian recounts family’s escape from Nagorno-Karabakh

Nov 4, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

“We left the graves of our parents, children, brothers, and sisters,” Lyudmila Melquomyan told CNA. Read more

San Juan Diego Migrant House in the state of Mexico.

St. Juan Diego migrant hostel: a refuge on the route through Mexico

Nov 2, 2023

By Diego López Colín

St. Juan Diego Migrant House in central Mexico has become a refuge for those undertaking dangerous journeys in search of... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Sep 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

“Those who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome,” the Holy Father insisted. Read more

For the last two weeks of April 2023, hundreds of migrants — mostly Venezuelans but also Colombians and Haitians — have been trying to leave Chile and enter Peru because Chile has toughened its immigration policies.

Bishops of Chile and Peru call for dialogue to resolve migratory crisis at border

May 1, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

For the last two weeks, hundreds of migrants — mostly Venezuelans but also Colombians and Haitians — have been trying... Read more

Pope Francis stands on an altar erected outside the Parliament Building in Budapest's Kossuth Lajos' Square during a public outdoor Mass on April 30, 2023.

The Good Shepherd calls us to ‘open our hearts to love,’ Pope Francis says at Mass in Hungary

Apr 30, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

Some 50,000 people attended a public outdoor Mass with Pope Francis in Budapest on Sunday. Read more

Pope Francis attends a meeting with poor people and refugees at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Budapest, Hungary, on April 29, 2023.

Speak the language of charity, Pope Francis encourages in Hungary

Apr 29, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

“It is not enough to provide bread to fill stomachs; we need to fill people’s hearts!” Pope Francis said Saturday... Read more

Pope Francis meets with refugees from Congo and South Sudan before his flight to Africa on Jan. 31, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with refugees from Congo and South Sudan before flight to Africa

Jan 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Among the refugees who met with the pope was Bidong, who spent much of his childhood in a refugee camp... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the general audience on June 22, 2022.

The Vatican is asking Catholics to share their experiences of helping migrants and refugees

Jul 28, 2022

By Courtney Mares

In a video message released on July 28 ahead of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis poses... Read more

Afghanistan map.

Afghan Christians: Where are they now?

Jun 11, 2022

By Kelsey Wicks

Escaping the Taliban was only their first hurdle. Now many are stuck in legal limbo. 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 embraces Daniel Jude Oukeguale, who detailed his arduous journey of escaping Nigeria in an effort to be smuggled into Europe, during the pope's visit to an immigration reception center in Hal Far, Malta, on April 3, 2022.

Pope Francis reminds migrants in Malta of his ‘closeness’ on last day of visit

Apr 3, 2022

By Joe Bukuras, Courtney Mares

Addressing a crowd on Sunday at the John XIII Peace Lab, an immigration reception center in Hal Far, Malta, Pope... Read more

Pope Francis waves to children while he waits aboard a catamaran to depart for the Maltese island of Gozo where would lead a prayer service on April 2, 2022.

Pope Francis in Malta: Christ himself appears to you in the faces of migrants

Apr 2, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told Catholics in Malta on Saturday that when they offer charity to the migrants and refugees who arrive... Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Dec. 22, 2021.

Pope Francis urges European countries to take ‘shared responsibility’ for refugees and migrants

Dec 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope made the appeal at his general audience. Read more

Pope Francis meets with refugees whom he helped to bring to Italy on his 85th birthday, Dec. 17, 2021.

Pope Francis celebrates his 85th birthday with refugees he helped bring to Italy

Dec 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The group of about ten refugees are being supported directly by Pope Francis. Read more

Charles, a 33-year-old father of a family who is a refugee at Pulka in Nigeria's Borno State.

Heroic Nigerian priest risks his life daily to help Christian refugees, aid agency says

Dec 15, 2021

By Agnes Aineah

Not every Catholic priest risks mortal danger every time he visits his people, but this Nigerian priest does. Read more

Pope Francis visits the Mavrovouni refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Dec. 5, 2021

Pope Francis calls migrant crisis a ‘shipwreck of civilization’ during refugee camp visit

Dec 5, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis visited the Mavrovouni migrant reception and identification center located along the shore of the island of Lesbos, Read more

Grace and Daniel have been stuck in Cyprus' buffer zone for more than six months after they fled Cameroon.

These Christian migrants prayed for a better future. Now Pope Francis is making it possible

Dec 3, 2021

By Courtney Mares

As a sign of Pope Francis’ concern for migrants, the Vatican has announced that it is helping to arrange the... Read more

Latest news

The pillars of the South Portico of the White House are decorated in rainbow colors as guests attend a White House Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2024.

Trump could end Defense Department’s promotion of gender ideology, abortion

Kash Patel speaks at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix.

Trump taps Kash Patel to shake up the FBI

The rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is seen a few weeks before its reopening to the public scheduled for Dec. 7, 2024, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Paris.

U.S. President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris

Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador.

Catholic Church in El Salvador calls on president to maintain ban on gold mining

Close to the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, one of the city’s oldest and most popular ecclesiastical tailor shops — Ditta Annibale Gammarelli — is ready for the Dec. 7, 2024, consistory for the creation of new cardinals.

Rome’s famous tailor prepares for the Catholic Church’s new cardinals

A 17th-century Japanese depiction of St. Francis Xavier from the Kobe City Museum collection.

Remembering St. Francis Xavier’s missionary zeal

Missouri’s bishops said citizens can reach out to the governor’s office to express opposition to the pending execution of Christopher Collings, who was convicted of the 2007 abduction, rape, torture and murder of a 9-year-old girl. Collings is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3, 2024.

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Missouri convicted murderer’s death row case

According to Venerable English College, during the Catholic persecution in England, students would gather around the “Martyrs’ Picture” in the chapel to sing the Te Deum — a Latin hymn of thanksgiving — whenever news reached Rome of the martyrdom of a former student. This custom continues today on Martyrs’ Day, Dec. 1, when the relics of the martyrs, preserved beneath the altar, are venerated by the students.

English seminary in Rome commemorates Martyrs’ Day on St. Ralph Sherwin’s feast

Smoke of war rises over a residential area in Aleppo. On Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported.

As Aleppo’s Christians face new ordeal, Church leaders call for courage and faith

The Reverend Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas.

Vatican suppresses Carmelite monastery following long-running controversy

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St. Francis Xavier
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