Pope Leo XIV calls for protection of migrant minors

Pope Leo XIV called for the protection and assistance of migrant children during the 112th World Day of the Migrant and the Refugee, held on September 27, 2026. Addressing the general audience in the Vatican, the Pope urged everyone to take responsibility for the lives of young people who face violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions while forced to leave their homes.

The Holy See selected the theme "Even one of these little ones" for this year's observance to highlight the vulnerability of children and adolescents in global migration movements. In his message, Pope Leo XIV stated that every child possesses infinite dignity and called on people to look beyond statistics to recognize the individual history and face of every minor.

According to Agenzia SIR, nearly 53 million children are fleeing their homes due to conflict, violence, and climate disasters. This group includes approximately 19.1 million refugees or asylum seekers, 29.4 million internally displaced persons due to war, and 4.4 million displaced by environmental emergencies. Additionally, at least 37 million international migrant minors move due to poverty. The agency reported that many of these children face human trafficking, forced labor, recruitment by armed groups, or arbitrary detention, while girls face a high risk of sexual abuse and gender-based violence.