Berkley Center

The global refugee crisis has reached staggering proportions, with millions displaced due to conflict, economic disruption, and climate change. Faith communities around the world are playing a critical role in addressing this humanitarian emergency, offering assistance and advocating for justice. On November 11 and 13, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University hosted a conference entitled “Caring for the Other: Refugees and Displaced Persons” to explore how religious traditions can inspire practical responses to forced migration. 

"The conference, part of the Culture of Encounter Project, convened leading religious leaders and NGO experts to both better understand the different ways religious communities respond to the plight of displaced persons and to imagine better policies and practices to alleviate the suffering of millions of vulnerable persons," said Professor Michael Kessler, executive director of the Berkley Center.

Current Context and Challenges: State, International, and Religious Responses

In the opening panel Ana White, head of strategic communications and outreach at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), framed the day’s conversations with statistics demonstrating that “this is the twelfth consecutive year that we see an increase in global displacement.” She emphasized that displacement is an accelerating trend that demands immediate evaluation and intervention. Mohammed Naeem of American Immigration Council agreed, citing the dire conditions of refugees in protracted states of displacement. 

Many refugees don't ever make their way to the United States or Italy or Germany. They stay in host contexts, sometimes for decades. So I think the multilateral system has a responsibility in…appropriately and sensibly ensuring that they are offered the dignity of an education, the dignity of a job [in that context]. Some semblance of a pathway in life that is more than just staying in a tent [in a refugee camp] somewhere in the world. 

He went on to explain how development and humanitarian actors are collaborating to strengthen partnerships that have historically been limited. Given the persistence of restrictive policies in Western democracies and the growing number of displaced individuals, a robust and coordinated response across the development and humanitarian sector is critical to avert further catastrophic outcomes for these vulnerable populations.

Religious/Faith Communities Welcoming Refugees

In the second  panel, Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., Pedro Arrupe Distinguished Research Professor in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and a Berkley Center senior fellow, discussed the profound connection between migration and religious traditions, highlighting how it shapes the actions of faith communities in addressing modern displacement crises. He highlighted the enduring relevance of migration in sacred texts likes the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, and the New Testament, which provide a moral framework for welcoming the displaced. 

There's a normative basis in the foundational scriptures of religious traditions, and there's deep experience of the reality of migration for the religious communities, virtually all religious communities.

Stories of migration, such as the flight of the Holy Family or the Hijra of Muhammad and his followers, resonate with contemporary challenges faced by refugees. Faith communities interpret these narratives as a call to embody principles of hospitality, solidarity, and justice, urging their members to provide both material support and moral advocacy. 

This alignment of theology and action underscores why faith-based organizations play such a pivotal role in addressing the global refugee crisis. “Faith communities are among the agencies that provide large amounts of assistance to the displaced of our world,” noted Rev. Hollenbach. 

Donald Kerwin, senior fellow at Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University, reflected on the Catholic Church’s teachings, which emphasize the rights of migrants, the common good, and the unity of people across cultures. “Christianity, at its core, is about gathering into one God's dispersed children,” he explained. In the encyclical Fratelli Tutti Pope Francis explores this vision of unity, reiterating how and why it extends beyond national boundaries and challenges xenophobia and narrow nationalism.

Case Studies and Specific Challenges: Analyzing Religious Responses

After addressing the theological basis for action, a third group of panelists explored how religious communities navigate the complexities of refugee integration in host countries. They drew on real-world examples to underscore the importance of long-term strategies and cultural mediation in fostering meaningful support for displaced populations worldwide.

The Humanitarian Corridors, “a safe and legal program of transfer and integration in Europe of vulnerable refugees,” exemplifies how religious communities can aid in resettlement. This program identifies vulnerable refugees, such as the disabled, women victims of violence, and the elderly, and facilitates their relocation. As Paola Piscitelli, president of the Community of Sant'Egidio USA, quoted from Sant’Egidio founder Andre Ricardo, “The experience of the humanitarian corridors shows that integration protects more than walls.”

The program relies on a three-fold approach: identifying refugees through experienced coordinators, preparing host families for mutual integration, and maintaining the involvement of cultural mediators who guide the process. This structure ensures not just physical relocation but also meaningful integration, grounded in mutual respect and understanding.

Despite the efforts of religious communities, significant challenges persist. Ellen Goldstein, previously a country director at the World Bank, offered insight. 

For many, many decades, organizations like the World Bank really viewed conflict and displacement as temporary distractions from the development agenda. … In today's world, with the global polycrisis, with climate change, conflict, and the rise in the number of displaced people, we have to think of displacement as a factor that needs to be integrated and built into long-term development planning.

Goldstein’s perspective highlights a critical shift in how displacement is approached within the broader development framework. The once temporary view of refugee crises is no longer adequate in a world facing interconnected challenges. 

Looking Ahead: A Time of Encounter

In the final panel, Berkley Center Senior Fellow Katherine Marshall used Goldstein’s point to propel the conversation forward. “I think one important theme that [emerged] was that this is not a temporary crisis. It is a permanent crisis," she said, citing factors that have contributed to increasing displacement. 

As societies grapple with deeply divided views on forced migration and immigration, this panel examined how religious communities can contribute to fostering unity and understanding. Despite persistent tensions across groups, the shared principle of welcoming the stranger found in many faith traditions serves as a powerful basis for engagement.

Jocelyne Cesari, a senior fellow at the Berkley Center, encouraged participants  to think of religion beyond denomination, and to include religious input on the humanitarian crisis in a broader ethical framework.

In this sense, what Pope Francis has started [in promoting a culture of encounter] is quite interesting and innovative, because it…emphasizes shared values, not a particular doctrine. We are sharing the same human condition, and we are all interested in social justice and solidarity.

Cesari described seeing interest among other religious communities in following this approach at the global level, which has potential to overcome not only the ideological divide but also the political use of religion in different national contexts.

In this context, the Culture of Encounter Project plays an essential role by bringing together faith leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations to foster dialogue and collaboration. The initiative aims to bridge ideological divides, enabling diverse actors to come together and craft shared, sustainable solutions for refugee crises. Through mutual understanding and concerted action, faith communities are uniquely positioned to lead this effort, offering a model for unity and compassionate care.