This Sunday, 29 September 2024, the Catholic Church will celebrate the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, a day dedicated to reflecting on the global challenges faced by those displaced from their homelands. Pope Francis, in his message for this day, calls for renewed compassion and solidarity, reminding us that God walks with migrants, accompanying them in their search for safety, dignity, and a better life.
This year’s message, titled “God Walks with His People,” draws a meaningful link between the biblical narrative of the Exodus and the experiences of migrants today. Just as the Israelites fled from oppression and journeyed through the desert to the Promised Land, many migrants embark on perilous journeys in search of freedom and hope. In both cases, the certainty of God’s presence offers strength, guiding and sustaining those on their way.
The Synodal Journey and Migration
Pope Francis links this reflection on migration to the recent developments in the Church’s synodal journey. The Pope highlights that the Synod of Bishops’ discussions on synodality remind us that the Church is fundamentally a pilgrim people, journeying together towards the Divine Promise. Synodality, which is rooted in walking together as one body, mirrors the shared journey of migrants, who remind us all that, as Christians, our ultimate home is not of this world but in heaven.
In this synodal spirit, Pope Francis encourages the faithful to walk in solidarity with migrants and refugees, recognising them as fellow pilgrims on the road to salvation. By walking together, we embody the mission of the Church and respond to Christ’s call to encounter and care for the marginalised.
Encountering Christ in the Migrant
One of the most striking aspects of Pope Francis’ message is the assertion that in every migrant and refugee, we meet Christ himself. Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, the Pope recalls the words of Jesus: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” He urges the faithful to see each encounter with a migrant as an opportunity to encounter the Lord, who identifies with the poor, the outcast, and the displaced.
Pope Francis emphasises that in caring for those in need, we open ourselves to salvation. Migrants, in their vulnerability, provide us with the chance to deepen our faith and live out the Gospel call to love and serve others. The Pope reminds us that when we open our hearts to migrants, we also open our hearts to God’s saving grace.
Prayer and Action
As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing refugee crisis, Pope Francis calls for prayer and action. He invites the faithful to pray for migrants and refugees, to recognise them as our brothers and sisters, and to join them in their journey. He also asks us to entrust the upcoming Synod Assembly to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who serves as a source of hope and consolation for all those on the journey.
The Pope concludes his message with a prayer that captures the essence of the day’s reflection. This prayer calls on God to help us remain mindful of our status as pilgrims, never becoming too attached to the temporary comforts of this world, and always walking in solidarity with our migrant brothers and sisters.
Prayer for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
God, Almighty Father,
we are your pilgrim Church
journeying towards the Kingdom of heaven.
We live in our homeland,
but as if we were foreigners.
Every foreign place is our home,
yet every native land is foreign to us.
Though we live on earth,
our true citizenship is in heaven.
Do not let us become possessive
of the portion of the world
you have given us as a temporary home.
Help us to keep walking,
together with our migrant brothers and sisters,
toward the eternal dwelling you have prepared for us.
Open our eyes and our hearts
so that every encounter with those in need
becomes an encounter with Jesus, your Son and our Lord.
Amen.
For more information and resources on the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, visit the official website of the Holy See or join us in prayer and reflection as we respond to Pope Francis’ call to journey together with migrants and refugees.