Pope's urgent call for migrant children

Pope Leo XIV issued an appeal for everyone to take responsibility for young migrants and refugees exposed to violence, exploitation and traumatic conditions along migration routes.

“I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility. Let everyone feel personally involved in the lives of these young people.”

Children face unspeakable suffering

Migrant children endure violence, torture, exploitation and traumatic conditions on their journeys, and not infrequently lose their lives along migration routes.

“Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable. Often endure unspeakable suffering, violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions.”

Millions forced from their homes

Millions of children and adolescents are forced to leave their homelands because of war, poverty, violence, environmental disasters and other tragedies, with numbers continuing to grow.

“Millions of children and adolescents are forced to leave their homeland because of war, poverty, violence, environmental disasters and other tragedies.”

Trafficking, violence and exploitation

Migrant children face deaths along routes, trafficking, exploitation, recruitment for armed conflicts, sexual violence and forced marriages, with their dignity trampled upon in countless ways.

“Deaths along migration routes, trafficking and exploitation, the recruitment of minors for use in armed conflicts, sexual violence, forced marriages.”

45 million displaced children worldwide

According to UNHCR's Global Trends 2025, 45 million children under 18 were among 117.8 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2025, with 39 percent of refugees being children.

World Day marks September 27

The 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 27 carries the theme 'Even just one of these children,' emphasizing that the response cannot be reduced to statistics.

“Before this tragic reality, my thoughts turn to the words of Jesus that profoundly challenge our consciences.”