Inspired by Pope Francis' Message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees in 2024, the report “God walks with his people: Good Practices” documents Catholic pastoral work with migrants and refugees in Latin America. Coordinated by the Holy See, through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD), in collaboration with the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), the study analysed over 100 initiatives in 10 different countries and highlighted 25 of them as exemplary “good practices.”
The document reveals a living, synodal, and itinerant Church on the move that places human mobility at the centre of its mission. Through various religious congregations and non-governmental organisations, its pastoral care for migrants operates at borders, in cities and remote communities, following the method of “welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating,” as proposed by Pope Francis.
A continent on the move: The context of pastoral action
Latin America is a continent marked by intense migratory flows, both internal and external. Various crises (such as violence, poverty, and unemployment) are forcing mass movements, for example: Venezuelans crossing the Andes, Haitians seeking refuge, and Brazilians risking their lives on deadly routes to the United States. In recent decades, there has also been an increase in the arrival of migrants from other regions seeking refuge in Latin America, including from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Brazil: The International Symposium on Migration and Religion consolidates a space for academic and pastoral dialogue
The International Symposium on Religion and Migration, organised by Missão Paz (Brazil) with the support of the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) and the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), attracts more than 200 participants annually, including researchers, pastoral workers and the general public, to bring together global and local perspectives on migration.
The integration of interreligious and cultural perspectives, with the active participation of migrants, has enriched the understanding of their adaptation processes and contributed to the development of more inclusive reception policies and the implementation of pastoral training from a transnational perspective. “Every year, the initiative is becoming increasingly international, featuring new cultural contexts in analysis and reflection and deepening the interconnections between the phenomenon of migration, the experiences of migrants and religion,” said Scalabrinian missionary Father Paolo Parise. Father Parise also emphasised the complementarity of the Symposium, which brings together academics from different generations, combines research and real experiences, and integrates different disciplines with a religious perspective.
From the outset, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has been represented at the International Symposium by Fabio Baggio (both before and after he became a cardinal). Cardinal Michael Czerny also participated in one of the editions. The 11th edition of the Symposium will be held from May 25-27, 2026, at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Bolivia: Levántate Mujer Foundation promotes self-care groups for children, adolescents, and women
A work of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, the Levántate Mujer Foundation develops alternative actions to traditional intervention with survivors of trafficking and sexual violence. According to Executive Director Alfredo Alfaro Chirinos, methodologies such as self-help groups allow for the implementation of strategies that strengthen healing processes. “These groups become spaces where peers meet and, by sharing their experiences of trauma, strengthen their bonds of resilience and are able to progress in their healing journeys together,” Chirinos explained. He emphasised that working with family members is a fundamental part of survivors’ new life plans, solidifying their participation in a protective ecosystem.
Furthermore, according to Chirinos, “alternative therapies, such as dance therapy, allow participants to manage their emotions from a perspective that is not necessarily verbal, thus becoming alternative forms of channelling and expression to traditional therapy sessions.” These activities, as well as professional training, allow for occupation-oriented therapy, creating a space for recreation where the traumatic situation experienced is not necessarily addressed, allowing for the creation of a life plan that is free from violence.
Born and raised by her grandmother in the countryside of Sucre, Bolivia, Cristina Jamires is the mother of six children. Jamires says that when she migrated to the city, she suffered and had difficulty integrating. “I couldn't communicate and everything was new,” Jamires recalled. To support her family, she worked washing clothes and selling drinks and vegetables. Through the Levántate Mujer Foundation, Cristina not only learned to communicate but also mastered sewing and weaving techniques.
Chile: Regularisation of migrant children and adolescents
The Pastoral Accompaniment programme run by the Chilean Catholic Migration Institute (INCAMI) in the Metropolitan Region of Chile consists of legal pastoral care that combines legal advice and humanitarian support to train fathers, mothers, or guardians of migrant children and adolescents in irregular situations. The aim is to ensure the regularisation of minors by obtaining Chilean identity cards to guarantee access to rights and social benefits (such as scholarships), promote integration, break cycles of family vulnerability, and offer protection against possible deportation.
For INCAMI Executive Director Luiz Carlos Do Arte, the most important factor is obtaining the child’s identity document, not simply for the sake of having it, but because it allows access to fundamental rights, such as permanent residency, and removes limitations on others, including education, health, and social security. “At the same time,” Do Arte explained, “it allows the family to have connections that may facilitate the whole family’s regularisation process and access to rights in the future.”