Pope Leo XIV’s Jubilee Message Inspires Renewed Commitment Amid Global Humanitarian Crisis
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Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 2025 Jubilee of Migrants renews the International Catholic Migration Commission’s commitment to its mission, as ICMC approaches its 75th anniversary.
On 25th July 2025, the Holy See published the Message of Pope Leo XIV for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which coincides with the Jubilee of Migrants and of the Missions, to be celebrated on 4th and 5th October 2025.
The Pope’s message for the Jubilee describes today’s situation in vivid terms: “The current global context is sadly marked by wars, violence, injustice and extreme weather events, which force millions of people to leave their homelands in search of refuge elsewhere. The widespread tendency to look after the interests of limited communities poses a serious threat to the sharing of responsibility, multilateral cooperation, the pursuit of the common good and global solidarity for the benefit of our entire human family.”
This message comes at a crucial time for ICMC, when a long chapter of its history is coming to a close.
Since the beginning of 2025, the international aid sector has been shaken by unprecedented donor budget cuts. These cuts have significantly reduced the capacity of the United Nations and civil society organizations to address the most pressing needs of millions of vulnerable people around the world, amidst a spiking number of man-made humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
In response to these challenges, ICMC – as many peer organizations – was forced to terminate several longstanding refugee-assistance programs in various countries across the globe. Unfortunately, thousands of refugees were left without critical support, while a majority of ICMC’s professional and dedicated staff lost their jobs.
As the resources available for humanitarian and development aid decline and needs grow in a dramatic way, more and more people all over the world are turning to local churches and faith communities, seeking lifesaving help. The Church – and ICMC with her – cannot ignore those suffering in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and many other places on earth: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
In 1951, when he established ICMC, Pope Pius XII entrusted it with the mission to “unite and organize existing Catholic associations and committees, and to promote, reinforce and coordinate their projects and activities on behalf of migrants and refugees” (Apostolic Constitution Exsul Familia Nazarethana, Title I – The Church’s Motherly Solicitude for Migrants).
For almost 75 years, on behalf of the Catholic Church, ICMC has been providing direct assistance to uprooted people and advocating for their rights at the international level. In parallel, we have worked to amplify the Church’s voice and strengthen its action in support of migrants and refugees, in many countries around the world.
Today, as ICMC works on its strategy for the future, the Pope’s message comes to remind us that our mission greatly contributes to fostering hope for the Church and for the whole of humanity: “In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes.”
In a time when the world thirsts for hope, we – ICMC and its global Catholic network – invite all to live this Jubilee as a providential opportunity to engage in our beautiful mission of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating people on the move. As pilgrims of hope, let us embrace “the promise of a present and a future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognized.”
Read Pope Leo XIV’s message : Migrants, Missionaries of Hope
