“When Pope Leo XIV visited the Canary Islands, one of the most critical transit points for refugees on their journey to Europe, we were present as a sign of solidarity, to bear witness, build community, and stand alongside our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.”

On 13–14 June, following Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Tenerife, Sr. Carmen Elisa Bandeo, Coordinator of the UISG International Migrants and Refugees Network, and Sr. Antonietta Papa, Coordinator of the UISG Migrants Project in Sicily, were invited to participate in the Symposium “Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home.” This global initiative, promoted by the Villanova University, La Machi, and other partners, seeks to mobilize academic communities in addressing the critical challenges faced by migrants and refugees.

“More than simply a conference, this multi-year project proposes a new way of proceeding: academics, students, and civil society partners collaborate through plenary sessions and working groups to share ideas, resources, and experiences. Together, they develop and refine a concrete Action Plan capable of promoting change, fostering mutual learning, and strengthening a shared commitment to migrants and refugees.”

The event brought together 120 participants from 20 different countries and featured short presentations, workshops, and testimonies from migrants who are now fully integrated into society.

UISG—represented by Sr. Carmen Elisa Bandeo and Sr. Antonietta Papa—was invited to introduce the Migrants and Refugees Network. “Our brief presentation was based on the image of a fishing net,” explained Sr. Antonietta Papa. “Every knot is essential to the success of the catch, just as every connection is essential in our work within the field of migration. We highlighted the richness of being and living as consecrated women present in migration contexts, collaborating with a wide range of social actors—from the docks of Lampedusa to advocacy initiatives.”