Key facts
- Pope Leo urged global action to protect child migrants.
- Migrant children often endure unspeakable suffering, violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions.
- The Pope's appeal comes ahead of the Catholic Church's World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
- The theme for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is 'Even just one of these children'.
Pope Leo lamented the conditions suffered by migrant and refugee children on Wednesday, urging global action to protect young people fleeing their home countries.
Speaking to thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, the pontiff stated that migrant children "often endure unspeakable suffering, violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions." He appealed to "everyone's sense of responsibility," adding, "May each person feel involved in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and assisted."
The Pope, who has frequently called for better treatment of migrants and previously criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies, made his appeal ahead of the Catholic Church's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated on Sunday.