The World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), an annual celebration observed by the Church since 1914
It serves as an occasion to express concern for vulnerable people on the move, pray for them as they face challenges, and raise awareness about the opportunities that migration offers. In 2024, the WDMR will be celebrated on September 29 with the theme “God walks with His people”. It’s a reminder that migrants, like the Israelites in the biblical exodus, journey toward their eternal homeland, and God accompanies them along the way.
In the Message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis reminds us that all of us, as God’s people, are migrants on this earth, journeying toward our “true homeland,” the Kingdom of Heaven. Migrants serve as a contemporary icon of these people on a journey, representing the Church’s pilgrimage. It is in them and in all our vulnerable brothers and sisters that we can encounter the Lord who walks with us. As we reflect on migration, let us recognize our shared humanity and the divine presence that accompanies us all.
The message was presented on 3rd June 2024 at the Holy See Press Office and started the the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) communication campaign in preparation for the WDMR2024, in which it invites all people of goodwill to organize initiatives with migrants, refugees, vulnerable people.
Here is the first video of the campaign and the support material (post charts, step-by-step itinerary aids, WDMR celebration kits…) for the celebration of the WDMR in different languages.
Images
- Photo by Sujeeth Potla on Unsplash