Rome, October 22, 2025 — As the International Conference “Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope,” organized by the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI), draws to a close, the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) Europe-Africa shared key reflections on the current challenges of missionary work among migrants.
Representing SIMN Europe-Africa, Fr. Antonio Grasso emphasized the urgent need for a new approach to missionary formation—one that begins with field experience and responds to the complex and diverse realities that missionaries encounter daily. “We are called to renew our training models based on the contexts where we serve and the evolving challenges of migration,” he noted noted.
The intervention also highlighted the spiritual dimension of migration, describing missionary work as a participation in God’s dream to reconcile a humanity divided by sin. “As missionaries—both religious and lay—we find ourselves within a beautiful plan: to walk alongside migrants, embracing both the struggles and hopes that migration brings,” the speaker added.
Finally, the reflection underscored the importance of acknowledging personal and communal wounds and embracing mediation as a path toward healing. By doing so, missionaries can more effectively respond to today’s migration realities and continue partnering with God in His ongoing plan of salvation.