SimiRoma

“Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope”: International Conference in Rome Explores Theology and Human Mobility Rome, October 21–23, 2025 — The international conference “Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope” gathered theologians, scholars, pastoral workers, and representatives of migrant and refugee communities from around the world at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. For three days, participants reflected together on migration as a journey of faith, hope, and encounter: an experience that continues to shape both the Church’s mission and humanity’s shared future. Organized by the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI), the University of Notre Dame, including the Keough School of Global Affairs [...]

On October 3, during the international conference Refugees & Migrations in Our Common Home, the Director of SIMI, Fr. Aldo Skoda, delivered a speech following the presentation of the work carried out by the research working group, offering his reflections on the resulting Action Plan. The conference successfully concluded opening new perspectives for the next three years. These days of dialogue, exchange, and shared commitment highlighted the importance of research as a driving force for understanding, collaboration, and social transformation. The power of research is not limited to the simple acquisition of new knowledge but represents a fundamental driver [...]

We met Viktor Seibert, a German social entrepreneur and founder of Sportellino, a nonprofit digital assistant based in Rome. He is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that aim to make everyday life more accessible. We’re excited to dive deeper into his work and vision, exploring how his projects contribute to making the world a more inclusive and interconnected place. Tell us about yourself and how the idea for the App "Sportellino" came about. The idea for Sportellino emerged during my Master’s in Migration and Development at Sapienza University in Rome. While writing my thesis on the intersection of AI and [...]

The second Sunday in July marks Sea Sunday. The Church on this day prays and remembers the fishermen and more than one million seafarers who work tirelessly on the huge vessels that transport goods around the world every day. Since its inception, the Catholic Church, through its structures such as dioceses, parishes, patronages, lay organizations and religious congregations, has provided material and spiritual assistance to people of the sea. The type of service and assistance offered varied according to the needs and conditions of the times and places. Despite the crucial importance of seafarers to the global economy, the [...]

From Haiti with Hope: A Journey of Resilience and New Beginnings Haiti, established in 1804, is located on the island of Hispaniola that shares along with the Dominican Republic and is the second-largest island in the Caribbean Sea. It a country vulnerable to natural disasters and 15 years after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Haiti continues to face immense challenges due to poverty, displacement and gang violence. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the violence has led to the internal displacement of 1.3 million Haitians - the highest number of people displaced as a result of violence. As [...]

Advanced Training on Project Cycle Management: Launch of the SIMI-UISG Webinar Series On June 23, 2025, the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) and the UISG International Migrants and Refugees Network launched a new series of advanced training webinars with a session focused on the Basic Concepts on Project Cycle Management (PCM). The event was held online and registered by approximately 100 religious women. SIMI and UISG has been collaborating since 2021 with the International Conference “Migrants and Pilgrims as our Ancestors” and has continued their collaboration in training programmes with a three-year project both online and in-presence, supported by the [...]

The 10th International Symposium on Migration and Religion was held from May 26 to 28 on the campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP). The meeting focused on the assessment and perspectives on migration in the Global South and North, demonstrating the richness of the analysis carried out in recent years and the importance the academic community has given to the phenomenon of migration. Promoted by the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) and the Mission of Peace – Center for Migration Studies (CEM), in collaboration with the Postgraduate Program in Religious Studies at PUC-SP, the Symposium [...]

I am Ishrat Jahan Haque Mitu, a Bangladeshi national with a multicultural background shaped by years spent living in Hong Kong. I am currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the American University of Rome, majoring in International Relations and Global Politics with a minor in Peace and Conflict. My profound passion for understanding global issues, especially complexities surrounding poverty and migration has guided my academic and professional journey. My experiences gained through various conferences, leadership roles, workshops and community service, has deepened my interest in social justice and equality. I am deeply committed to further my education to pursue a [...]

Francis: a migrant pope with migrants Sensitivity and care towards migrants, refugees, and victims of trafficking were among the main qualities that characterized the ministry and magisterium of Pope Francis, who returned to the Father's house on April 21, 2025. This brief remembrance does not aim to present a comprehensive summary of this pontiff's teachings on the issues of human mobility. This is a task that will have to be addressed in the coming years by carefully studying the countless interventions that Francis dedicated to people on the move: these are speeches, homilies, reflections, and prayers that have been [...]