Catholic Church focuses 2026 Migration Week on protecting children

The Catholic Church has announced that the 2026 National Migration Week in the United States will focus on the protection of migrant and refugee children. Scheduled from September 21 to 27, the initiative will culminate in the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Pope Leo XIV has set the theme “Even just one of these little ones,” emphasizing the extreme vulnerability of children and adolescents within global migration flows. The Pope highlighted that millions of minors flee their homes annually due to war, poverty, violence, and environmental disasters. He called for institutional responses to prioritize the best interests of the child, specifically advocating for the protection of rights to life, education, and development.

The Pope further urged institutions to promote family reunification and prevent the trauma caused by forced separations and repatriations. He called for a shift in perspective from merely managing migration flows to ensuring the full and immediate protection of human rights, fostering integration, and creating spaces that respect cultural and religious identities.