Migration

“It is necessary to respond to the globalization of migration with the globalization of charity and cooperation, in such a way as to make the conditions of migrants more humane. At the same time, greater efforts are needed to guarantee the easing of conditions, often brought about by war or famine, which compel whole peoples to leave their native countries.”

﹣Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 3, 2014.

The Catholic Church upholds the right of people to migrate to flee oppression and poverty, calling people of faith to support and assist those who migrate in order to live in dignity and peace and to flourish as humans made in the image of God.

Migrant family at asylum rally in Nogales, Mexico

A migrant family shares their story during a rally for access to asylum at the US-Mexico border in 2021.

Discover a rich collection of resources that address the complex and pressing issue of migration through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. These materials highlight the Church’s commitment to the dignity of every human person, the call to solidarity, and the responsibility to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable.

On this page, you’ll find:

  • Prayers and Reflections: Spiritual tools inspired by Scripture and Catholic tradition to guide compassionate responses to the challenges faced by migrants, refugees, and displaced persons.
  • Educational Resources: Lesson plans, discussion guides, and classroom activities designed to explore the moral and ethical dimensions of migration.
  • Multimedia Content: Videos, articles, and infographics that bring the stories of migrants to life and highlight the Church’s teaching on justice, human dignity, and hospitality.
  • Advocacy Tools: Practical resources to support advocacy for humane migration policies and to foster community actions that uphold the rights and dignity of migrants.

These resources provide a comprehensive understanding of migration as a critical issue in today’s world, inviting educators, faith leaders, and advocates to reflect, learn, and act. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, they inspire individuals and communities to stand in solidarity with migrants and work toward a more just and compassionate society.

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God’s Mercy Has Entered the Heart: Pope Francis’s Homily in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Video
This reflection is based on the words of Pope Francis’s Homily in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico on February 17, 2016. The message of his homily was how mercy can transform our lives and the lives of those...
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Pope Francis’s 2016 World Day of Migrants and Refugees Message

Prayer Service
This prayer service, entitled “Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us: The Response of the Gospel of Mercy,” uses words from Pope Francis’s message with a response that is meant to stir us into...
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What Have We Done for the Migrants?

Prayer
Have you been moved by the images of the migrant men, women, and children in the news recently? This prayer calls to mind the question, "what have we done for the migrants?" and invites each of us to...
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Desperate Crossings

Litany
This short litany focuses on the desperate desire of Africans mired in poverty to risk everything, even life itself, to migrate in dangerous boats to try to reach a better life in the developed...
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Catholic Social Thought and Migration

Reflection
In this Catholic Social Teaching resource, Fr. Fred Kammer S.J. reflects on migration and migrants from the perspective of the Church's teaching. He includes quotes from the American bishops as well...
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Pope Francis Responds to Migrants with “Courage and Creativity”

Pope Francis, in his message on Migrants and Refugees, reminds us that ours is a church without borders, an open, inclusive church. He calls for courage and prays that we may all “enlarge our...
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Prayer for Migrants (English and Spanish)

Prayer
With the global community, we pray for those who see home and all it means disappear as they flee violence, injustice, and poverty. We pray for those weary travelers who now live in daily...
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Prayer Service for Children at the Border

Prayer Service
This prayer service invites us to reflect on the thousands of children coming to the U.S. border, to pray for them, and to pray that our response to them is grounded in the teachings of our faith...
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For Children Immigrating Alone

This prayer is for all unaccompanied children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border in search of a better life, leaving behind violence and tragedy in their home countries.  

Cesar Chavez

The new film Cesar Chavez raises many challenging questions as we explore his legacy of seeking justice for farmworkers. Posted on April 15, 2014

Immigration Reform: "On 'Strangers No Longer'"

The recent book "On 'Strangers No Longer'" explores many facets of the historic 2003 pastoral letter on immigration from the bishops of Mexico and the United States. This guide provides 110 questions...
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To Labor and To Love: A prayer on the Feast of Saint Frances Cabrini

St. Frances Cabrini is the patron of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13th. This prayer celebrates her labors of love as the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.