# Pope Leo XIV response to custody dispute

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pope-leo-xiv-response-to-custody-dispute
> Updated: 2026-08-14T11:03:34.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 2.

Pope Leo XIV has responded to a letter from Catherine and Nathan, parents involved in the ‘family in the woods’ custody case. The parents, who have been separated from their three children since November 2023, requested the Pontiff’s interest in their situation, invoking the ‘inalienable right of parents to choose their children's education and upbringing.’

The legal dispute originated from a medical emergency involving mushroom poisoning, which prompted health and social services to inspect the family's living conditions. Citing a lack of running water and traditional electricity, the Aquila Juvenile Court ordered the temporary removal of the children. Although the parents have since moved to a new home with improved amenities and schooling access, the children remain in a reception facility in the Vasto area. The family has released an autobiographical book, ‘My Truth’, to highlight the tension between child protection and family lifestyle autonomy.

## Claims

- The Pope denounced risks faced by minors, including death on routes, trafficking, exploitation, recruitment into armed conflicts, sexual violence, and forced marriages. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- The 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is scheduled for September 27, 2026. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- Millions of children and adolescents are forced to flee their homes due to war, poverty, violence, and environmental disasters. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Pope Leo XIV stated that public and private institutions are obligated to prioritize the protection and dignity of migrant children and adolescents. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The theme for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is ‘Even just one of these little ones’. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The Pope called for a shift in focus from managing migratory flows to the immediate protection of human rights. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The Pope advocated for family reunification and the avoidance of separation traumas caused by repatriation. (corroborated by 5 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Pope Leo XIV calls for protection of migrant children

Pope Leo XIV issued a message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, calling for the immediate protection of human rights for migrant children and a shift from managing flows to ensuring dignity.

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-protection-of-migrant-children

### 2026-08-12: Pope Leo XIV responds to 'family in the woods' custody case

Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers to Catherine and Nathan, parents seeking reunification with their three children following a controversial legal removal in Italy.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pope-leo-xiv-responds-to-family-in-the-woods-custody-case

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Cite as: Pope Leo XIV response to custody dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pope-leo-xiv-response-to-custody-dispute