WDMR and Angels Unawares Sculpture

The presence of the sculpture “Angels Unawares” in St Peter’s Square is meant to commemorate the upcoming 105th World Day of Migrants & Refugees (WDMR) that takes place on September 29th. This initiative, set up by the Migrants & Refugees Section, counted with Pope Francis celebrating a special Mass in St Peter’s Square for the occasion.
The WDMR is a celebration the Church holds since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for many different vulnerable people on the move and to pray for the challenges and increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers. For 2019, Pope Francis has chosen the theme “It is not just about migrants” to make sure no one remains excluded from society, whether a long-time resident or someone newly-arrived.

Message of His Holiness
Pope Francis for the
105th World Day of Migrants
and Refugees

“Dear brothers and sisters, our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. […] If we put those four verbs into practice, we will help build the city of God and man. We will promote the integral human development of all people”.

POPE FRANCIS. Message for the WDMR – 2019

Welcoming:

Increasing Safe and Legal Routes for Migrants and Refugees

Protecting:

Defending the Rights and Dignity of Migrants and Refugees

Promoting:

Fostering the Integral Human Development of Migrants and Refugees

Integrating:

Greater Participation of Migrants and Refugees to Enrich Local Communities