Camminiamo insieme — giovani e fede
The Jubilee of Migrants, an embrace of faith and unity
Editrice Shalom
Tempo di lettura: 4 min
Autore: Editrice Shalom
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During the 2025 Jubilee, one moment shines with particular light: the Jubilee of Migrants, scheduled for October 4 and 5, 2025.
This is not merely an event in the packed calendar of the Holy Year, but a vibrant appeal to compassion and a solemn affirmation of the Catholic Church’s commitment to welcoming and integrating migrants into society. It is the moment when the Church reveals its face as a “mother” who cannot be a stranger anywhere, belonging equally to all nations and all peoples.
A pilgrimage toward unity
The Jubilee of Migrants is dedicated to celebrating the diverse communities of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, deeply involving their families, volunteers, and all those who tirelessly support them.
The event is conceived as a platform of hope, a crossroads for dialogue, prayer, and cultural exchange, aiming to foster an intense spirit of unity, compassion, and understanding.
The days will be marked by moments of deep spirituality.
• Saturday, October 4 will feature a moving meeting with the Pontiff in St. Peter’s Square (at 10:00) and a pilgrimage toward the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. A symbolic journey recalling the Church’s own condition as a “people on a journey.”
• In the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in the jubilee churches, finding spiritual comfort after their journeys and hardships.
• Sunday, October 5 will culminate in the celebration of Sunday Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (at 10:30) and, in the afternoon, the Festival of Peoples (from 15:00 to 18:00), a celebration of cultures united in faith.
Maternal concern for the “disoriented”
For the Church, a migrant is a faithful person who, living outside their own homeland or ethnic community, is, as it were, “disoriented.” This particular condition can affect faith and religious practice, making ordinary pastoral structures, such as the territorial parish, insufficient or impossible to reach.
The Church cannot simply abandon those faithful whom it is unable to reach through the usual methods. The general principle guiding this specific pastoral ministry is clear: migrants must be assured of spiritual care no different from, and no less than, that enjoyed by other faithful in the dioceses.
From this perspective, no one in the Church can be considered a stranger or simply a guest, nor in any way marginal.
The treasure of the spirit: language and culture
An essential part of ministry for migrants is profound respect for their spiritual and cultural heritage. Their mother tongue, ways of thinking, and culture must not be denied, but celebrated. The Church cannot ask them to renounce that heritage as the price of expressing and practicing their faith.
Respect for language is crucial, because it is through language that the migrant's faith was born, grew, and took shape. For this reason, whenever possible, the Church recommends that the priest responsible for this ministry speak the same language and, if possible, belong to the same ethnic group as the migrant.
History bears witness to the power of this care: wherever the faithful have been accompanied in this way, their faith has not only been preserved but has deepened and grown stronger, contributing to the formation of new and flourishing Catholic communities. Conversely, the lack of such assistance has led many faithful to abandon religious practice or even to distance themselves from the Catholic Church.
The Jubilee of Migrants 2025 is not just an event, but an invitation to recognize and welcome the pilgrim face of the Church: each of us is called to this, and we are all called to recognize one another as brothers and sisters.
MIGRANTS' PRAYER
God of mercy, we pray for all the men, women, and children who died after leaving their lands in search of a better life. Although many of their graves have no name, each one is known, loved, and cherished by you. May we never forget them, but honor their sacrifice through deeds rather than words.
We entrust to you all those who have made this journey, enduring fear, uncertainty, and humiliation in order to reach a place of safety and hope. Just as you did not abandon your Son when he was led to a safe place by Mary and Joseph, so now be close to these your sons and daughters through our tenderness and protection.
May caring for them help us promote a world where no one is forced to leave their home and where everyone can live in freedom, dignity, and peace. God of mercy and Father of all, awaken us from the sleep of indifference, open our eyes to their suffering, and free us from insensitivity, the fruit of worldly well-being and self-absorption. Inspire all of us - nations, communities, and individuals - to recognize that those who reach our shores are our brothers and sisters.
Help us to share with them the blessings we have received from your hands and to recognize that together, as one human family, we are all migrants, travelers of hope toward you, who are our true home, where every tear will be wiped away, where we will be at peace, safe in your embrace.
Pope Francis
