The 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on 24 September 2023 - the last Sunday of the month. The Holy Father has chosen the theme 'Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay'.
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The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) since 1914. It’s always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.
The theme of Pope Francis’ message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is: Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay. The theme, and indeed the Holy Father’s message, echoes many of the principles found in the Bishops’ document on refugees and migrants published earlier in 2023 – Love the Stranger.
The Vatican has a dedicated section for Migrants and Refugees. It is directed personally by Pope Francis and aims to help the Church, and others, to accompany those forced to flee and make sure they are not shut out or left behind.
Use this hashtag across all social media platforms to spread the word of the Church and celebrate all Migrants and Refugees, #WDMR2023
The theme of Pope Francis' message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is: Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay.
On World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we are reminded of the 24 principles outlined in the 'Love the Stranger' document.
The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development have produced resources for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
This section offers the 24 guiding principles in video form, which have been endorsed by the Holy See, COMECE, CAFOD, CSAN and Caritas Social Action Network members.
CBCEW together Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) are holding a webinar to discuss this year's theme and how we can help people to flourish in their homelands, as well as what we can do here in the UK to ensure we are welcoming the stranger.
Around 1,000 people gathered in Westminster Cathedral to welcome Little Amal, the 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a 10-year old unaccompanied Syrian refugee girl, on 25 October 2021.
The 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2022 took place on 25 September - the last Sunday of the month. The Holy Father chose the theme 'Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees'.
The 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2020 took place on 27 September - the last Sunday of the month. The Holy Father chose the theme 'Forced like Jesus Christ to flee'.
