World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2018

On January 15, the Church observes the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, a commemoration instituted by St. Pius X. Pope Francis’s message for the day, written on August 15, is entitled “Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.”

Vatican News - Pope at Mass for Migrants and Refugees: 'Overcome fear and welcome the other' - Pope Francis celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees with a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica and reminds us that in order to encounter others we must first overcome our fears.

Vatican News - Pope’s homily at Mass on World Day of Migrants and Refugees: Full text

Official English-language translation of Pope Francis’ homily at Holy Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees - Children are the most vulnerable migrants and must be protected, says Pope

As we celebrate the 103rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees, on Sunday, 15 January 2017, it is important that we come together to remember and pray for the tens of thousands of children who migrate alone, unaccompanied, to escape poverty and violence.

Children are the most vulnerable and hardest hit among the world’s migrants and require special protection, Pope Francis said. The Pope made these comments in a message on the theme of ‘Child Migrants, the Vulnerable and the Voiceless’ for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees 2017.

In his message, the Pope called for greater protection and integration of immigrants and refugees who are minors, especially those who are unaccompanied. ‘Minors are especially fragile, vulnerable and often invisible and voiceless – unable to claim or unaware of their rights and needs,’ he said.

In particular, they have ‘the right to a healthy and secure family environment, where a child can grow under the guidance and example of a father and a mother,’ the Pope said. ‘Children, furthermore, have the right to recreation,’ he added. ‘In a word, they have the right to be children.’

Please join with Pope Francis and the Council for Immigrants of the Irish Bishops’ Conference in drawing attention to the refugee crisis, in particular the plight of minor migrants.