Pope Leo XIV issues message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The Catholic Church is observing the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Pope Leo XIV has issued a message centered on the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ drawing inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew.

The Pope’s message highlights the extreme vulnerability of minors caught in global migration flows. Millions of children and adolescents are forced to flee their homes due to war, poverty, violence, and environmental disasters. The message emphasizes that these children face immense risks, including family separation, human trafficking, exploitation, sexual violence, and recruitment into armed conflicts.

Church leaders and dioceses, including those in Spain, are using the day to call for a shift in perspective—moving away from viewing migration through statistics or political rhetoric and toward recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual. The observance serves as a call to action for communities to create welcoming spaces and to address the humanitarian crises occurring along migration routes, such as those in the Mediterranean and at borders like Ceuta.