Sea Sunday 2025: Vatican calls seafarers and fishers 'Pilgrims of Hope, Prophets of Peace'

Seafarers and fishers are in the heart of the Church and serve as "pilgrims of hope" and "prophets of peace", the Vatican has said in a message released ahead of Sea Sunday, which will be marked on 13 July this year.

In a powerful statement, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, reaffirmed the Church's deep commitment to those who work at sea.

"We want all those who work at sea to know that they are in the heart of the Church," the Cardinal said. "They are not alone in their demands for justice, dignity and joy."

Addressing seafarers and fishers directly, Cardinal Czerny continued: "You are pilgrims of hope every time you work with care and love; every time you keep alive the bonds with your families and your communities; every time that in the face of social and environmental injustice you organise yourselves to react and respond courageously and constructively."

Calling them to a prophetic role, he added: "We ask you to be bridges even between enemy countries, prophets of peace."
Often the work of seafarers and fishers remains invisible to many. The Cardinal's message asks the wider Church to consider how people work in ports and on ships, their rights, conditions of safety on board, and access to material and spiritual assistance.

On Sea Sunday, 13 July, Stella Maris-the Catholic Church's maritime charity-invites parishes and communities to pray for those who work at sea and to support the charity's work providing practical, pastoral and spiritual support to seafarers, fishers and their families in ports across the world.

This Sea Sunday, the Church gives thanks for the indispensable role seafarers and fishers play in all our lives and prays for their protection, health and peace of mind.

LINKS
The full text of the Cardinal's statement can be found here: www.humandevelopment.va/content/dam/sviluppoumano/news/2025-news/06-giugno/messaggio-domenica-del-mare/EN-Msg-Domenica-del-Mare-2025.pdf

More information about Stella Maris (formerly known as the Apostleship of the Sea) can be found here: www.stellamaris.org.uk