76th Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner’s Program for Refugees

Mr. Chair,
High Commissioner,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

The plight of refugees, which affects entire communities across multiple regions of the world, poses an ongoing challenge to the protection of fundamental human rights. Today, the number of forcibly displaced people has reached a staggering 123.2 million, a figure that has steadily increased over the past decade. The gravity of their suffering, and the serious violations of their fundamental human rights, highlight the urgent need for a collective response that appeals to the shared conscience and responsibility of the international community.

In this dire context, the Holy See wishes, first and foremost, to express its proximity to all those suffering the consequences of ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as in many often-forgotten crises, such as Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar. The Holy See also wishes to convey its deep appreciation to the countries and host communities that continue to assist refugees generously, despite facing considerable challenges of their own.

Mr. Chair,

As the High Commissioner has observed, the humanitarian sector is experiencing a severe funding crisis that is jeopardizing the continuity of life-saving operations and the viability of multilateral institutions. These bodies were established precisely to foster dialogue and to address issues that require international cooperation and shared responsibilities due to their very nature and magnitude.

The response to the global humanitarian crisis must transcend borders, political ideologies and short-term geopolitical interests. International protection is a duty and a right, not a privilege. This crisis is not merely a test of multilateral effectiveness, but of our humanity. 

The collective response should therefore be based on the principle of shared responsibility. No single State, particularly those bordering conflict zones, should be expected to bear the burden of mass displacement alone. This shared responsibility must extend beyond emergency relief to include investment in lasting peace, reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction. The Holy See has repeatedly emphasized that these efforts should be guided by four key principles: welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating. Such an approach includes establishing humanitarian corridors, facilitating family reunification, and upholding the rights of refugees in accordance with the 1951 Refugee Convention. It also entails promoting the integral human development of displaced people by ensuring they have access to education, healthcare and employment, and by addressing the root causes of displacement, including armed conflicts, religious and ethnic persecution, political oppression, and climate change.

 Ultimately, durable solutions will only be attained when people live in peaceful, just and democratic societies that are free from fear.

Mr. Chair,

The route-based approach proposed by the High Commissioner presents a pragmatic framework for addressing the complex realities of mixed migration flows. Such a framework can only succeed however, if the principle of shared responsibility among all States and stakeholders is respected and the inclination to delegate humanitarian obligations and assistance to human beings is resisted.

The Holy See is deeply committed to supporting migrants and refugees on their journeys, including through the numerous Catholic organizations and the countless diocesan programs dedicated to the issue. These organizations, in order to uphold the inherent God-given dignity of every man and woman and defend the sanctity of human life, provide displaced persons with food, shelter, education, and psychological and spiritual support, regardless of their religion, sex, ethnicity, race or origin.

Pope Leo XIV affirms that “Recognizing that the other person is a brother or sister means freeing ourselves from the pretense of believing that we are isolated individuals or from the logic of forming relationships only out of self-interest”.[1]  In this regard, the global community’s concern for refugees must be a catalyst for the reaffirmation and emphasis of universally recognized human rights. It is imperative that these rights be effectively guaranteed to refugees.

Thank you.