As record numbers of children are displaced around the world, Pope Leo XIV has placed their plight at the center of the Church’s attention, naming children as the focus of the 2026 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

The decision comes as Catholic outreach programs continue responding to the ongoing needs of migrant and refugee families already living in New York.

At Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, CEO Antonio Fernandez says children remain among the most vulnerable people the organization serves.

“One of the priorities that we have is to serve people in need, especially children,” Fernandez said. “We focus on all people, regardless of where you’re coming from, regardless of the color of your skin.”

The latest data from the United Nations refugee agency reports that close to 50 million children had been displaced due to conflict and violence globally, the highest number on record.

Children at the forefront

Pope Leo is also expected to highlight the issue on July 4, when he travels to Lampedusa, a small Italian island that has become one of the world’s most significant entry points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

In the United States, recent policy changes are reshaping the landscape of migrant care. The Trump administration canceled a major federal contract supporting services for unaccompanied migrant children in Miami, raising concerns among Catholic organizations about the future of care for vulnerable minors.

Fernandez said that although the surge of new arrivals to New York has slowed in recent months, the needs of immigrant families already living in the area remain significant.

“There’s not a lot of new people coming to New York, but there’s a lot of people who are staying here who are immigrants in this archdiocese,” he said. “For us, it’s important to connect with them at all levels, body, mind, and spirit.”

‘We do not ask a child, do you have papers?’

Catholic Charities provides food assistance, counseling, case management, and other support services for families throughout the archdiocese. Fernandez emphasized that the organization’s work is rooted in both faith and human dignity.

“The Catholic Church, we do not ask a child, ‘Do you have papers?'” he said. “If they’re coming to the food pantry, we feed them.”

Fernandez said helping vulnerable children is both a moral and Christian responsibility.

“If I see a child, it is my obligation, my duty, my moral Christian obligation to support this child,” he said.

He also warned that migrant children can face serious risks, including exploitation and human trafficking, especially without stable support systems in place.

According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, human traffickers victimize an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide.

The 2026 World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be observed on September 27.