It is a core Catholic teaching that every human is created in the image of God and is therefore entitled to
dignity and respect. This teaching guides our work in welcoming the stranger with care, concern, and solidarity.

World Refugee Day, celebrated annually on June 20th, draws global attention to the plight of millions of refugees— individuals forcibly displaced from their homes due to various forms of conflict, violence, or persecution. Per UNHCR data, the refugee population surged to an alarming 36.8 million by the end of 2024, making their struggle an urgent humanitarian concern.

Refugees face immense risks, including physical danger, emotional trauma, and socio-economic instability. Sacred Scripture helps us to open our hearts to and better understand the plight of migrants and refugees through the story of the Holy Family’s forced journey out of Egypt. 

In response, the Catholic Church urges the faithful to actively participate in refugee resettlement initiatives, to better educate themselves on the causes, consequences, and effective solutions to refugee crises, and to support refugees living in their communities.

Let us heed the call to be a sign of hope in this Jubilee Year, welcoming and walking alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.

World Refugee Day 2025: A Call to Compassion, Welcome, and Witness

June 20, 2025

WASHINGTON – “Solidarity with refugees and migrants is not optional; it’s a living testimony of the Gospel,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz. On World Refugee Day (June 20), the Catholic Church stands in prayerful solidarity with refugees around the globe to recognize and honor the courage, resilience, and dignity of those forced to flee their homes.

As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop Seitz reaffirmed the commitment of the Catholic faithful to walk with refugees in compassion and hope:

“In their journey, refugees embody the hope we are called to share as Christians. As we welcome them, we reflect on our own pilgrimage toward the eternal home promised to us. Their resilience and faith challenge us to serve others more deeply and to build a world where every person is treated with dignity and can live in peace and freedom. Together with people of faith and goodwill, we recognize the profound witness of individuals and communities who open their hearts and homes to those seeking safety—welcoming the stranger, healing wounds, and restoring hope.

“We bishops of the United States remain resolute in our call for the consistent protection of refugees amid their disparate treatment by our government. The Church recognizes the right of each country to control its borders, while also affirming the right to seek refuge when life-threatening circumstances deny people the foremost right to remain in their homeland. As our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has affirmed, the temptation to turn inward, to isolate ourselves from the needs of our brothers and sisters around the world, is incompatible with a Christian vision for the common good. We must remember Christ’s exhortation in Luke’s Gospel: to whom much is given, much is required.”

In his Pentecost homily, Pope Leo XIV reiterated that Christian love transcends borders, as he declared, “Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms.”

How you can support refugees:

  • Launch a new initiative that will support migrants in their effort to become American citizens
  • Engage in advocacy with local, state, and federal leaders to ensure that resources are in place to support refugees and immigrants during their transition and beyond.
  • Pray (English prayer for refugees)

Learn more:

  • Listen to the stories of more than 165 migrants who were forced to flee from their homes in search of a better life.

Foundational Documents regarding Church teaching on migration

Additional resources:

From the USCCB:

 

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