During the official ceremony in which this status was notified, H.E. Cardinal Bertone emphasized the importance of this strengthened relationship between the Secretariat of State, the Episcopal Conferences and the ICMC in their shared concern for the well-being of migrants.

"The migration issue is of great concern and calls for enhanced collaboration between the Secretariat of State, the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People and the International Catholic Migration Commission", the Cardinal said.

The Decree, dated 24 June 2008, was signed by H.E. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Vatican.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of ICMC's President and Governing Committee for this clear signal of an enhanced relationship, Johan Ketelers, Secretary General of ICMC, highlighted the growing impact of the migration issue on the global political agenda and the effect of the increasing mobility on the social fabrics of our societies.

He thanked the Cardinal for the excellent relations and expressed his conviction that this new juridical status will contribute to improving the work of ICMC, which is an expression of the many bishops conferences concern on behalf of the migrants worldwide.

The new juridical recognition was granted in accordance with canons 116-123 of the code of Canon Law. The Vatican granted the ICMC canonical public juridical status to be more in-line with the organization's present identity and activities.

The Commission was established in June 1951 and has since contributed both through policy and operations to creating new future options for millions of migrants and resettled refugees.

Decree granting ICMC new juridical status (128.86 KB)