The paper analyzes the role of the Italian Church in protecting the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. In line with the indications of the social doctrine, the Italian Church has built over the years a real migrant welfare service, able to offer an essential contribution in the management of the growing migration emergency. The contribution analyzes the inspiring principles of the Church's activity in favor of migrants, its evangelical foundation and its repercussions in canon law, the role that religious institutions play in the reception and protection of migrants, the main services offered and the collaborations with other organizations, national and international, religious and secular, working in the field.