Pope Francis will make his 44th apostolic journey abroad to Marseille in France on September 22 and 23, 2023. He will attend the conclusion of the “Mediterranean Meetings” (or Rencontres Méditerranéennes), an initiative gathering bishops, young people, and others into “a large ‘village' of Mediterranean communities, solidarity or cultural associations, and movements committed to ecology and dialogue.”

On September 24, we mark the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The plight of migrants has deeply affected the Mediterranean region and much of the world, and is a concern that the Mediterranean Meetings hope to address. Visit our Salt + Light Plus page for a series of short videos, courtesy of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, highlighting the challenges faced by migrants and efforts to improve their health and development. You can read Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees here.