Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I warmly greet all of you who are taking part in the plenary meeting of the Council of the International Catholic Migration Commission, which happily coincides with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Commission’s founding by my predecessor, Pope Pius XII. 

As representatives of Episcopal Conferences and Church institutions from around the world, accompanied by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, you will have the opportunity in these days to share perspectives on the Church’s pastoral care of migrants and refugees. Together, you will discern the challenges and opportunities that human mobility presents to our societies and to the Church’s mission.

In this regard, I would recall the words of my Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te: “In every rejected migrant it is Christ himself who knocks at the door” (no. 75). I invite you, therefore, to deepen your reflection on the Gospel’s call to recognize the face of our Savior in every person, especially in each migrant, refugee, displaced person or survivor of human trafficking.

Your meeting takes place at a difficult time. Wars, violence, injustices, natural disasters and widening social and economic inequalities are forcing millions of people to flee their homes and nations. This creates humanitarian and social challenges for communities in countries of origin, transit and destination alike. Moreover, such circumstances are compounded by a marked decline in funding for international protection and assistance.  This makes it all the more important to foster the values of understanding, dialogue and solidarity.

Faced with these challenges, I urge you to persevere in your noble and important mission of strengthening the Church’s services to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants, refugees and returnees. I likewise encourage you to advocate courageously for the recognition and respect of their God-given dignity, in cooperation with other faith-based organizations and civil society in general.

In particular, I pray that your efforts will help find new ways to care for displaced children.  Indeed, since their number tragically continues to grow, it is necessary to work with their countries of origin in order to remove the causes that compel them to flee, while also offering them protection and welcome in the countries of transit and destination (cf. Message for the 112^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 27 September 2026).

In conclusion, dear friends, I entrust your deliberations to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Solace of Migrants, and I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing to each of you, your families and the worldwide ICMC family.

May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.