WUCWO’s Observatory participates in the Congress “Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope”

From 21 to 23 October 2025, the Pontifical Urban University (Rome) hosted the International Congress “Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope” which brought together theologians, scholars, religious leaders, representatives of migrant communities, and civil society organisations to reflect on migration as a theological, social, and human phenomenon.

The event was organised by the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI), the University of Notre Dame, and the Pontifical Urban University, under the patronage of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Among the participants was Patricio Caruso, consultant for WUCWO’s World Women’s Observatory (WWO), who was also invited as a speaker in Panel 5: “Migration and Social Ethics”, together with René M. Micallef (Gregorian University), Michel Veuthey (Order of Malta), and Kevin Appleby (Center for Migration Studies, New York).

The panel addressed themes such as human dignity, rights and social justice, borders and citizenship, emphasizing that migration is a “theological place” where the suffering and hope of humanity are revealed. The discussion highlighted the need to move from a pastoral approach of assistance to one of rights and participation, promoting integral development and care for our common home. In addition, Caruso presented the Observatory’s project on access to justice for migrant women in Mexico. At the end of 2023, the Observatory set out to understand how the rights of migrant women arriving in the country are violated and how they access—or fail to access—justice, in order to identify, through networking, existing gaps and act where responses are still lacking.

Throughout the three days, the congress featured lectures, interdisciplinary panels, and dialogue spaces connecting the theology of migration, the Church’s Social Doctrine, and the current challenges of human mobility.

The meeting concluded with visits to Casa Scalabrini 634, a space of welcome and integration for migrant families and young refugees, and to Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo, where participants discovered a project that embodies integral ecology and the link between spirituality, sustainability, and human development.

The WWO’s participation in this congress reinforces its commitment to promoting human dignity and working in networks to build more just and inclusive societies in which all migrants can be welcomed, protected, promoted, and integrated.