News - August 2026 RSS Feed

The World Day of Migrants and Refuges can be traced to an action undertaken by Pope Saint Pius X a few months before the outbreak of World War I. The Holy Father was deeply moved by the plight of millions of Italians who had migrated abroad, particularly to North and South America, since the beginning of the twentieth century. A few months later his successor, Pope Benedict XV instituted the Day of the Migrant to support pastoral outreach, particularly for Italian immigrants.

On August 11, 2026, Pope Leo released his Message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church observes on September 27, 2026. Deborah Castellano Lubov, who writes for Vatican News, notes that a major theme of this year’s message is “Even one of these children,” which is taken from the Gospel of Matthew. Pope Leo admonishes his readers that the cries of the displaced should appeal to the conscience of all of us.

On September 24, 2015, Pope Francis visited a joint session of Congress and gave an address to the Senators and members of the House of Representatives. I think it gives us perspective on events taking place today. Let me start by quoting some remarks Pope Francis said to the Senators and Representatives gathered on that memorable Thursday:

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, I attended a Mass of Solidarity at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Takoma Park. Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, served as principal celebrant, joined by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miani, Florida, Archbishop Roert G. Casey of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, C.S., of Charleston, South Carolina, and ten priests.

This week in our series of great Americans, we are looking at our first-citizen saint who was the subject of a movie in 2024 (Cabrini).