From April 13 to 16, 2026, Montreal hosted a gathering of Church leaders from across the Americas, united around their shared commitment to accompanying migrants and refugees. Held under the Gospel-rooted theme "He saw him, he drew near, and he took care of him," the event proved to be a defining occasion of communion, discernment, and pastoral action.

Among those present were His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, CS, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (Vatican); Bishop Pierre Goudreault, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Bishop Martin Laliberté, President of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec.

The gathering also brought together Bishop Eugenio Lira Rugarcía of Matamoros-Reynosa; Father Gustavo Meneses Castro, Executive Secretary for Human Mobility of the Costa Rican Episcopal Conference and Executive Director of OSMECA; Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune of Charleston, South Carolina; Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso; Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas; Bishop Noël Simard, Bishop Emeritus of Valleyfield; and Father Pierangelo Paternieri, CS, Episcopal Vicar.

Over four days, participants took part in an immersive experience alongside the communities they had gathered to discuss. They visited reception centres for asylum seekers, met with seasonal and migrant workers, and spent time with several of Montreal's cultural faith communities. Through these encounters, participants heard moving testimonies and gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing these brothers and sisters.

The sessions dedicated to reflection and dialogue helped strengthen collaboration among Churches in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Together, participants sought to imagine a Church ever more united, capable of embodying the figure of the Good Samaritan in today's migration landscape.

Eucharistic celebrations, times of prayer, and fellowship nourished the gathering's spiritual life, grounding the work in the conviction that accompanying migrants is not peripheral but central to the Church's Gospel-rooted mission.

This regional gathering will remain a sign of hope, one that calls the Church to see, to draw near, and to care, with compassion, courage, and faith.

This pastoral initiative was organized by the Office for Cultural and Ritual Communities of the Archdiocese of Montreal, under the leadership of Episcopal Vicar Father Pierangelo Paternieri, CS, and with the support of Alessandra Santopadre and Eliana Jaramillo.

This gathering was also covered by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican, offering their perspective on the regional meeting and its conclusions. Read their full article here.

Maribel Mayorga
Press Officer, Archbishop's Office and
Director, Communications and Media relations
Archdiocese of Montreal