UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on January 26, 2026, formally recognizing the Catholic Church as an essential partner in protecting over 117 million displaced people worldwide. Salih emphasized faith-based organizations‘ role as first responders in crises spanning Sudan to Myanmar, praising their moral authority and community reach. The partnership, established in December 2012, faces challenges including power imbalances and churches’ limited legal expertise. UNHCR has committed to providing frameworks and support to strengthen collaboration, a relationship shaped by resource constraints and the shared goal of dignified refugee treatment.
The newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, has called the Catholic Church and faith-based institutions essential partners in protecting and resettling the world’s displaced people. Speaking after his first official audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on January 26, 2026, Salih emphasized the Church’s moral authority and extensive humanitarian network as crucial for UNHCR’s work worldwide. The Bible frames marriage as a covenant instituted by God, a concept that undergirds many faith-based teachings on human dignity and community responsibility, linking ecclesial commitments to social care through God’s covenant.
As of mid-2025, more than 117 million people have been forced to flee their homes globally, according to UNHCR reports. Of these, 42.5 million refugees have sought safety across international borders. Every crisis, from Sudan to Congo, Venezuela to Myanmar, stretches resources further and demands stronger global commitment. Salih described refugees not as mere numbers but as people with dreams, agency, and the right to hope.
Faith-based organizations have served as first responders in crises from Syria to South Sudan, providing ground presence, commitment to human dignity, and mobilization of local communities. The UNHCR first established formal dialogue and partnership with churches in December 2012, recognizing the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of those it serves. Pope Leo XIV has made the plight of migrants and refugees a cornerstone of his papacy, continuing his predecessors’ legacy.
Despite this collaboration, challenges remain. Churches often lack legal expertise and financial capacity for effective refugee responses, while UNHCR staff rotation affects institutional memory and long-standing cooperation. A power imbalance between UNHCR and churches has hindered partnerships, with churches not willfully defiant but constrained in executing responses. Many churches lack financial and human resources to meet UNHCR procedures and requirements, including limited ability to hire legal experts familiar with UNHCR legal frameworks and procedures.
Recent efforts highlight the path forward. A Faith-Bridge Iftar event gathered advocacy leaders, faith-based organizations, and think tanks to support refugees, with speakers from HIAS and USCCB emphasizing unity across religious divides. The convergence of Easter Monday and Passover symbolized interfaith collaboration.
UNHCR is prioritizing internal reforms for efficiency, streamlining operations with other UN agencies to reduce duplication and make certain limited funds reach those most in need. The agency has committed to supporting churches with legal frameworks, guidelines, and expertise, aiming for a long-term working relationship that strengthens collective action for displaced populations.
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