The council, established by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988, was dedicated to the spiritual welfare of migrant and itinerant people.
The last President of the council was Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2009.
In 1967, Pope Paul instituted the Office for the Pastoral Care of people who are part of the complex phenomenon known commonly as "Tourism" in the Congregation for the Clergy.
On March 19, 1970, Paul condensed all sectors dealing with human mobility into the Pontifical Commission for the Spiritual Care of Migrants and Itinerants, in the motu proprio Apostolicae caritatis.
Effective 1 January 2017, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development took responsibility for the work of the council[2] through its Migrants and Refugees Section.