‘It is with great joy that the ICMC family welcomes the Holy Father’s appointments’
Statement of the International Catholic Migration Commission on the Holy Father’s leadership appointments at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
‘It is with great joy that the ICMC family welcomes the Holy Father’s appointments of Reverend Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, as Prefect, and His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, CS, as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, effective 1st September 2026. We also welcome the elevation of Reverend Monsignor Jozef Barlaš from Undersecretary to Secretary of the same Dicastery.
Our longstanding collaboration with them in their previous roles as Secretary and Undersecretaries of the Dicastery has given us the privilege of witnessing firsthand their outstanding leadership and deep commitment to the issues that lie at the heart of ICMC’s mission.
ICMC is therefore profoundly grateful for the opportunity to continue advancing its mission in the field of human mobility with their support and under their leadership. We extend to them our warmest congratulations and best wishes, and pray that the Lord may bestow upon them the blessings, wisdom, and grace they will need as they assume these important and demanding responsibilities.
At the same time, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to His Eminence Cardinal F. Michael Czerny, SJ, who will conclude his service as Prefect of the Dicastery on 31 August 2026. Since his appointment in 2017 as Undersecretary responsible for the Migrants and Refugees Section, he has continuously offered invaluable guidance, friendship, and steadfast support to our Commission.
As a Member of the Dicastery, I warmly welcome these appointments and renew ICMC’s commitment to further strengthening our collaboration with the new leadership as we work together in service of the Church and in support of migrants, displaced persons, refugees, and all people on the move.’
Christine Nathan, ICMC President
