On October 6, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. CET, a presentation of the Pastoral Letter entitled “He saw him, approached him, and cared for him” will take place. Inspired by the synodal environment of dialogue and listening, and wishing to reaffirm the preferential option for the poor and excluded, the Bishops of the Border and those responsible for Human Mobility in North, Central America, and the Caribbean are joining the pastoral efforts that have historically been carried out in different countries on behalf of migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, and survivors of trafficking.
The Pastoral Letter seeks to be a tool that guides pastoral actions in local churches, and at the same time is a call to recognize that the pastoral treatment of the phenomenon of migration needs to take into account its regional dimension and establish more interconnected strategies with coordination between the Episcopal Conferences of the countries in the region.
The Letter, therefore, aims to accompany migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, and survivors of trafficking throughout their journey, from departure to integration into host communities.
Below is the link to the online webinar and the program:
Zoom (with English and Spanish translation)
15.00 Introductory greetings
His Excellency Cardinal Michael Czerny S.I. Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
15.10 Presentation of the P. Letter He saw him, approached him, and cared for him
P. Gustavo Meneses Castro, Executive Secretary, Human Mobility, Costa Rican Episcopal Conference, and Executive Director, OSMECA
15.35 Presentation and analysis of the ecclesial network process in North, Central America, and the Caribbean
Dr. Kevin Appleby, Senior Researcher, Center for Migration Studies of New York
16.00 Break
16.15 Migrants of Hope
1. Testimony from the northern border
His Excellency Mons. Mark J. Seitz, Bishop of El Paso and Chairman of the Committee on Migration of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
2. Testimony from the Central American corridor
His Excellency Mons. Daniel Blanco Mendez, Auxiliary Bishop of San Jose, Costa Rica, and President, OSMECA
16.45 God walks with his people, sacramental and pastoral presence, and ecclesial networks
His Eminence Fabio Cardinal Baggio C.S., Undersecretary DPIHD