Rome: As the world prepared to mark World Refugee Day on June 20, the Sant’Egidio Community held its poignant annual vigil titled “Dying of Hope” a solemn tribute to the countless men, women, and children who perished while fleeing war, poverty, and persecution in search of safety and dignity in Europe.
The memorial prayer service, led by Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, was held on Wednesday at the historic Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Mourners gathered not only to grieve, but to remember and to reaffirm the moral responsibility of solidarity with those on the move.
Migrants, refugees, and representatives from a broad spectrum of humanitarian organizations took part in the vigil. Among them were groups like Centro Astalli, Caritas Italiana, Fondazione Migrantes, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, ACLI, the Pope John XXIII Association, the Scalabrinian Network, and ACSE united by a shared mission to welcome and protect the vulnerable.
In his homily, Cardinal Reina offered heartfelt prayers for all who lost their lives on perilous migration routes—crossing deserts, mountains, and seas in the hope of freedom. He reminded attendees that acts of mercy towards the hungry, the thirsty, and the displaced are not optional, but an essential expression of Christian compassion.
The vigil, now a tradition, was born from Sant’Egidio’s desire to keep the memory of these lives from fading into statistics. It serves as a space for reflection, grief, and the strengthening of resolve to work for safer, more humane migration pathways.
Founded in 1968 by Andrea Riccardi in a Roman high school, the Sant’Egidio Community has grown into a global network in over 70 countries. With its pillars of prayer, service to the poor, and commitment to peace, the community stands as a beacon of Christian witness in today’s world.
In particular, Sant’Egidio plays a central role in migrant aid through its “Humanitarian Corridors” program, a model praised by Pope Francis. It not only helps resettle refugees safely but also supports them with housing, legal aid, language lessons, and cultural integration living out the Pope’s call to "Welcome, Protect, Promote, and Integrate."
For Sant’Egidio, every life lost on the migration trail is not just a tragedy, but a call to conscience. And with each year, “Dying of Hope” becomes more than a memorial it becomes a prayer for justice, a plea for peace, and a promise that these souls will never be forgotten.