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Pope Leo’s message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
27 September 2026
“Even Just One of These Children” (Mt 18:10)
Pope Leo’s message,
Dear brothers and sisters,
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees, held each year, invites us to focus on various aspects of the complex phenomenon of migration.
For the 112th World Day, the theme “Even Just One of These Children” draws our attention to minors directly involved in migration and flight.
It reminds us of our obligation to care for them and of the Lord’s promise that “whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”
(Matthew 9:37 –“See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven).
Displaced minors: a complex reality of vulnerability
Minors are the most vulnerable group in global migration.
They are real people with unique stories who call on our conscience.
Every year, millions of children and adolescents are forced to flee their homelands due to war, poverty, violence, environmental disasters, and other tragedies.
Sadly, this number continues to grow.
The economic, political and military consequences of this disaster are immense.
The suffering of migrant children does not end with their relocation.
Many of these children are very young and have lost parents, siblings, and friends.
They have also witnessed unspeakable acts of violence.
Others, separated from their families for extended periods, endure the anguish of separation while trying to reunite with them.
Minors traveling with their parents are also exposed to extreme and traumatic conditions.
Lastly, we must not forget about those who are separated from their parents due to repatriation.
This already appalling situation is further compounded by tragedies such as deaths along migration routes, human trafficking, the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, forced marriages, and the atrocities they have suffered or witnessed during their travels.
Their dignity is trampled upon in countless ways.
In his message for the 2017 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which was dedicated to the theme “Child Migrants, the Vulnerable and the Voiceless“, Pope Francis recalled that “migrant children are defenseless in a threefold way: they are children, they are foreigners, and they have no means to protect themselves. I ask everyone to help those who, for various reasons, are forced to live far from their homeland and are separated from their families.”
Yet, amid so much darkness, the light of solidarity shines brightly.
Individuals, families, civil institutions, and ecclesial communities have chosen not to look the other way.
We think of the families who open their homes to provide these children with the warmth of a family hearth, the educators who work in reception centers, and the volunteers and aid workers who devote themselves each day to healing the invisible wounds of these children along migration routes and in our cities.
Through their commitment, they bear witness that love can overcome indifference.
Even just one of these children
In light of this tragic reality, I am reminded of Jesus’s words that profoundly challenge our consciences: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Matthew 18:5). This is not a question of numbers or statistics.
The Gospel invites us not to calculate, but to recognize the infinite dignity of every child.
Every child, every human being, possesses infinite dignity.
Each person is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), and each person is a presence of the Lord.
Before every migrant child, we are called to act with humanity and faith because we have the opportunity to welcome and encounter the Lord.
This call becomes even more urgent in light of another affirmation of the Lord in the Gospel of Matthew: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35).
Sadly, migrant children are more easily overlooked because they lack the support of adults who can protect them.
Therefore, it is necessary to intervene in their countries of origin to eliminate the reasons that force them to flee. At the same time, we must offer protection and hospitality in transit and destination countries.
Today, the cries of displaced children rise to God, just as the cries heard in the Book of Exodus did. “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them” (Exodus 3:7–8).
God hears their cries.
In order to bring about liberation, he appeals to our consciences and calls us to action, just as he did with Moses.
We cannot remain indifferent to such suffering, nor can we become accustomed to it.
An appeal to the responsibility of all
Even just one of these children calls each of us to open our eyes and hearts and listen deeply to their stories, fears, and dreams.
This allows us to overcome the detachment that reduces people to statistics that do not directly concern us.
It is an invitation to recognize the dignity of each child, even before considering his or her status as a ‘migrant’ and to safeguard his or her fundamental rights: the right to life, education and a standard of living that enables full physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.
Even one of these children calls us to transform the concept of welcoming into a stable pastoral practice in the life of the Church.
We cannot delegate this task to institutes or associations with a specific mission.
Confronted with the concrete faces of these children in daily life, the entire Christian community is called to regard them as its own sons and daughters and engage with each of their stories.
Christian communities should be encouraged to promote the integration of refugees and migrants, valuing them as full members of the ecclesial family.
This involves fostering new educational and spiritual paths, including personalized ones, which transcend the mentality of mere assistance.
It is particularly essential to prevent the solitude, isolation, and rejection that often affect the children of migrants and to promote opportunities for encounter and integration.
In these opportunities, local young people and young migrants can support each other along a path of mutual respect, solidarity, and friendship.
Even just one of these children, within the horizon of the different religions, reminds us that the vulnerability of the young knows no religious boundaries and unites us in a shared humanitarian and spiritual responsibility.
This creates an opportunity for concrete interreligious dialogue, in which believers, drawing upon their sense of transcendence, can work together to create networks of protection.
Faith communities must create spaces where every boy and girl is respected and valued for their cultural identity, which prevents the risk of radicalization by extremist groups.
Ultimately, protecting a child means safeguarding the divine image within.
In the context of civil institutions, even just one of these children calls us to reaffirm the principle of the best interests of the child.
Public and private institutions must prioritize the protection and dignity of every child and adolescent.
This requires adopting effective legal protection measures, promoting family reunification, and preventing the trauma caused by separation.
A change in perspective is urgent: the focus of the debate must shift from merely managing migration to fully and immediately protecting human rights.
This requires adopting “a coordinated, supportive, and effective response capable of guaranteeing protection, welcome, and genuine opportunities for integration to those who migrate” (Address to the Spanish Parliament, Madrid, June 8, 2026).
