‘Even Just One of These Children’
ICMC statement on the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Sunday 27 September, 2026
Leer en español / Lire en français
‘On this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated around the world on 27 September, the message of the Holy Father leads us back to the very heart of the Gospel.
It recalls the episode in which the Apostles were arguing about who was the greatest among them. In response, Jesus placed a child in their midst and taught them: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Through this powerful message, Pope Leo once again places children at the center, namely migrant children. “Minors are the most vulnerable group within the global movements of migration…Their dignity is trampled upon in countless ways…Even just one of these children calls us, in the life of the Church, to transform welcoming from an abstract concept into a stable pastoral practice.”
For the ICMC family, this is a powerful reminder of what truly matters in our service: placing the most vulnerable at the center, above all uprooted children. ICMC supports the local Church in multiple countries around the world in their work to ensure access to education, humanitarian assistance, and psychosocial support for war-affected and other displaced children. These are services we are determined to strengthen and multiply.
We receive Pope Leo’s message with deep gratitude, and with renewed commitment and conviction embrace the responsibility to translate it into action.’
Davide Bernocchi, ICMC Secretary General
***
To find out more about WDMR and the Holy Father’s message for 2026, and access WDMR multimedia tool and resources, visit the dedicated WDMR page of the Dicastery for Promoting Human Development.
