Cardinal Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo urged Catholics to move beyond expressions of concern for refugees and migrants and take concrete action to protect their rights, especially those of vulnerable minors.
In his Sept. 27 reflection for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kikuchi highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s call to shift the migration debate from “merely managing migration” to the “full and immediate protection of human rights.”
The reflection was released as the Church marked the World Day of Refugees, Migrants and Displaced Persons on the last Sunday of September.
Kikuchi said the observance calls on parishes and Catholic institutions to renew their commitment to building faith communities that transcend nationality and seek to “live together” with people from around the world.
He recalled Pope Francis’ repeated appeals for refugees and migrants, citing The Joy of the Gospel: “We are called to recognize Christ who is there: the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, and the elderly who are abandoned in solitude.”
Kikuchi said Pope Leo chose the phrase “even one of these small ones” from the Gospel of Matthew as the theme for this year’s observance, focusing particularly on migrant children exposed to harsh conditions.
According to the pope, “underage migrants are often overlooked because they lack adults to protect and support them.”
Leo said protection must extend beyond countries of transit and destination to the conditions that force people to leave their homes.
“Therefore, it is necessary not only to protect and accept them in the countries they pass through and their destinations, but also to take action in their countries of origin to eliminate the causes that forced them to flee,” the pope said.
Kikuchi also cited Leo’s call for “a coordinated, solidarity, and effective response that can guarantee the protection, acceptance, and opportunity for true integration of migrants.”
The Tokyo archbishop linked the pope’s appeal to the Gospel account of two brothers who responded differently to their father’s command. One initially refused but eventually obeyed, while the other appeared willing but failed to act.
“What matters to God is acting in accordance with His will as a result, not simply making gestures that outwardly please Him,” Kikuchi said.
He warned that outward expressions of faith can be misleading when they are not matched by action.
“Unfortunately, we are easily deceived by outward gestures. We cannot see what lies beneath the mask,” Kikuchi said.
He added that people can mistakenly believe visible actions praised by others are enough to demonstrate faith.
“But this does not work with God. It is easy to deceive people, but unfortunately, it is not possible to deceive God,” he said.
Kikuchi closed by returning to Pope Leo’s challenge on migrant children: “What can we ourselves do for ‘these little ones’?”
