James J. Norris, former President of ICMC, and the Call to greater Catholic Church Action Against Poverty

Today marks the 60th anniversary of James J. Norris’ historic address during the Second Vatican Council, a speech that profoundly influenced the Catholic Church to strengthen its commitment to social justice and continues to resonate today.

On November 5, 1964, James J. Norris, an American layman, delivered a historic address at the Second Vatican Council, profoundly shaping the Catholic Church’s focus on social justice and global poverty. His speech, titled “World Poverty and the Christian Conscience,” called for the Church to increase its concrete action against poverty, a message that continues to resonate today through the work of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and other Catholic-inspired organizations dedicated to assisting the most vulnerable.

Devotion to the less fortunate

Norris dedicated his life to advocating for migrants, refugees, and the most vulnerable. After World War II, he served as European director for the Catholic Relief Services, where he saw firsthand the plight of millions of displaced people. Thus, in 1951, Norris worked with Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini (later Pope St. Paul VI) and then-Pope Pius XII to establish ICMC to coordinate the Church’s response to the urgent needs of migrants and refugees. 

Norris served as president of ICMC for 23 years, between the organization’s founding in 1951 and 1974, leading the organization in advocating for safe migration and defending the rights and dignity of migrants, refugees and internally displaced people. Under his leadership, ICMC expanded its network of national member Episcopal Conferences and established itself as a trusted global partner on migration.

The Second Vatican Council

Chosen by Pope Paul VI for his expertise in humanitarian work, Norris became the first layman to address the Second Vatican Council. On 5 November 1964, he delivered his speech, in flawless Latin, entitled “World Poverty and the Christian Conscience,” before the world’s Catholic bishops, who were assembled in Saint Peter’s Basilica. 

Convinced that the Catholic community could play a much stronger role in the fight against poverty, Norris called on the Church to establish formal structures to foster Catholic engagement, and proposed a framework that would guide cooperation, policy, and action in support of the impoverished. He appealed to the Church’s by boldly proposing that from this ecumenical council there come “a clarion call for action which would involve the creation of a structure that would devise the kind of institutions, contacts, forms of cooperation and policy, which the Church can adopt, to secure full Catholic participation in the worldwide attack on poverty.” 

Norris’ speech left a profound impact, ultimately shaping Paragraph 90 of Gaudium et Spes, the Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, which emphasized the Church’s role in promoting social justice. 

Days later, most likely in a symbolic response to Norris’ appeal, Pope Paul VI laid down the papal tiara, on the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, an unprecedented gesture of solidarity with the poor. This action later resulted in significant donations to support the Church’s efforts in response to global poverty, and the tiara now is displayed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, USA.

The day after his speech, Norris received a hand-written letter from Pope Paul VI, addressed to “Our beloved son, James Norris,” for calling attention to poverty in the world and for his appeal for Catholics to make every possible effort to provide aid to poor by following the example of Jesus Christ.

Continuing Norris’ Vision

“James Norris’ commitment to serving the marginalized set a foundation that continues to guide ICMC’s mission today. His call for the Church to stand firmly with the poor and displaced still resonates deeply, reminding us of our responsibility to protect human dignity and promote justice,” stated ICMC Secretary General Davide Bernocchi. This influence was also deeply felt by his predecessor, Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo, former ICMC Secretary General and now serving as Senior Advisor at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: “while serving at ICMC, I felt constantly inspired by Mr. Norris’ selfless dedication to the basic human needs of all persons in the world and to ensure their access to a life worthy of their God-given human dignity.”

Sixty years on, ICMC remains committed to protecting displaced people and advocating humane migration policies that ensure their rights, dignity and well-being, regardless of faith, race, or nationality and through its humanitarian programming, both directly and through its partnerships with Catholic Bishops’ Conferences in every region of the world.