Speaking to thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s central plaza, the pontiff described the harsh realities faced by displaced youngsters, citing violence, torture, exploitation and traumatic conditions as common experiences for many migrant children.
“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility,” Leo said, urging each person to feel involved in the lives of these young people and to ensure they are always protected and assisted.
The 2026 address follows a series of public statements by the first U.S.-born pope on migration. In April, he likened the treatment of migrants to being “worse than house pets,” and last year he openly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s hard‑line immigration policies.
Leo framed his appeal as a prelude to the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, scheduled for the following Sunday, a day the Vatican uses to highlight the plight of displaced persons and to promote concrete aid and policy reforms.
Humanitarian groups have welcomed the pope’s remarks, noting that high‑profile advocacy can pressure governments to improve asylum procedures and expand child‑focused protection programs, though concrete actions remain to be seen.