“Even just one of these children”

Each year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees invites us to pause and look more deeply at the reality of migration. For this 112th World Day, Pope Leo XIV turns our gaze to the most vulnerable among those who journey: the children.

In these words, we hear an echo of the heart of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, who once said:

“For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society.”

Two voices, one call: to look beyond numbers, categories, and headlines, and to see the face of Christ in every migrant and refugee child. Not “migrants” in general, but this girl, this boy, whose dignity is infinite and whose story matters to God.

Pope Leo reminds us that every child possesses infinite dignity: “Human dignity has no passport.” We are asked to see the child before we see the “migrant,” and to move from merely managing migration flows to fully protecting the rights to life, education, and a future.

To help us pray and reflect, we offer several resources:

The full Message of Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is available here.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has prepared a page with:

    • A video on this year’s theme, available in multiple languages
    • Graphics (posters, social media images)
    • A Pastoral Kit with activities for children, youth, and adults
    • Liturgy and prayer materials
      All of these resources can be found here: Dicastery’s WDMR 2026 page

A Prayer Guide by CLAR and CLAMOR (Latin America and the Caribbean) is also offered in English, Spanish, and French. In this document you will discover:

  • The theme: Pope Leo XIV focuses on migrant children and adolescents, “the most vulnerable group within global migration flows.”
  • The message: every child has infinite dignity; “Human dignity has no passport.”
  • The change called for: from managing flows to protecting human rights—life, education, and full self‑actualization.
  • The dangers highlighted: trafficking, exploitation, sexual violence, forced recruitment, and family separation, especially along routes such as the Darién Gap and the borders of Central America and Mexico.
  • The call to consecrated life: not to remain bystanders, but to be a refuge, with open communities, schools, and ministries, working in networks to protect young migrants.
  • The biblical foundation: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Mt 18); the Holy Family itself knew exile in Egypt.
  • The booklet includes a lectio divina, a “Kindling Hospitality” celebration, a guide for the Eucharist, a prayer to Mary, 25 quotes from the Pope, and useful links.
  • The suggested gesture: “Hands in Network” – each person writes the name of a migrant child for whom they commit to pray and whom they pledge to defend.

You can download the prayer guide here:

(This resource is based on material kindly shared by Melanie Guste, rscj (USC).)