World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR)

Under the theme “God walks with His people”, the Church is celebrating the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees this year.

Created by Pope Benedict XV, this day is intended to make Christians aware of the situation faced by thousands of vulnerable people, forced to move for one reason or another. It is also an invitation to take action on behalf of people living in difficult conditions.

Every action, whether local, regional or international, is important in the eyes of Pope Francis to support migrant people. A communication campaign run by the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development (DSDHI) is part of this spirit, to encourage the organization of initiatives with migrants, refugees and vulnerable people.

The material is collected on this platform in several languages. It includes a video of the Pope and visuals for social media, celebration kits and suggestions for a step-by-step itinerary.

“We all… are migrants on this earth…”

In his message, the Holy Father confirms the relevance of the theme chosen for this year’s event.

“The biblical narrative of Exodus, depicting the Israelites on their way to the promised land, naturally comes to mind: a long journey from slavery to freedom prefiguring the Church’s journey toward her final encounter with the Lord. Likewise, it is possible to see in the migrants of our time, as in those of every age, a living image of God’s people on their way to the eternal homeland. Their journeys of hope remind us that “our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20).”

“Yet the fundamental reality of the Exodus, of every exodus, is that God precedes and accompanies his people and all his children in every time and place. God’s presence in the midst of the people is a certainty of salvation history: “The Lord your God goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you” (Deut 31:6).”

“God not only walks with his people, but also within them, in the sense that he identifies himself with men and women on their journey through history, particularly with the least, the poor and the marginalized. In this we see an extension of the mystery of the Incarnation.”

In the spirit of the Holy Father, “all of us, God’s people, are migrants on this earth, on our way to the “true homeland”, the Kingdom of Heaven”. In the run-up to this day, we invite you to take a journey together, leaving no one behind, taking advantage of the materials available for prayer vigils, meditative walks or moments of reflection in stages.