Pope Leo XIV appeals for protection of migrant and refugee children

Vatican City, September 23, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has called for greater responsibility in protecting migrant and refugee children exposed to violence, exploitation and traumatic conditions along migration routes.

The Pope made the appeal at the conclusion of his General Audience in St Peter’s Square, four days before the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be observed on September 27.

“Sunday, September 27, marks the World Day of Migrants and Refugees,” Pope Leo said, expressing his concern for migrants and refugees, particularly minors forced to leave their homelands.

“Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable,” he said, noting that they often face “violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions” and can lose their lives along migration routes.

“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility. Let everyone feel personally involved in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and cared for,” the Pope said.

The Church is preparing to observe the World Day under the theme, “Even just one of these children.” In his message for the occasion, published in August, Pope Leo highlighted the vulnerability of children and adolescents affected by migration and forced displacement.

Millions of children are forced to leave their homelands because of war, poverty, violence, environmental disasters and other tragedies. The Pope also drew attention to deaths along migration routes, trafficking and exploitation, the recruitment of minors into armed conflicts, sexual violence and forced marriages.

Recalling the words of Jesus, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,” Pope Leo stressed that the suffering of migrant children must not be reduced to statistics.

According to the UNHCR’s Global Trends 2025, 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of 2025 due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and the climate crisis.

The figure included 41.6 million refugees, 9 million asylum-seekers and 68.7 million people displaced within their own countries by conflict or violence.

UNHCR estimates that 45 million children under 18 were among the forcibly displaced at the end of 2025. Children accounted for 39 per cent of refugees, people in refugee-like situations and others in need of international protection.

Courtesy: Vatican News