Pope Leo XIV reacts as he arrives to rejoice the mass throughout a someday go to to Lampedusa island, south of Sicily, on July 4, 2026. (Photograph by Tiziana FABI / AFP through Getty Photos)
Tiziana Fabi | Afp | Getty Photos
Pope Leo marked the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on Saturday with an attraction to People to welcome and shield immigrants, in a letter despatched to his house nation as he visited Italy’s migrant frontline island of Lampedusa.
Leo, who drew the ire of Donald Trump final 12 months after calling the U.S. president’s hardline anti-immigration insurance policies inhumane, additionally urged the world to change into “extra human” and to assist these fleeing conflict and poverty.
Throughout a day journey to Lampedusa, a gateway for migrants risking harmful Mediterranean crossings into Europe from Africa, the pope urged European leaders to do extra to help arrivals, which have topped 7,000 this 12 months.
Individually, in an attraction despatched to the U.S. for its landmark anniversary, Leo stated the Catholic worth of defending life consists of “welcoming, defending and helping immigrants.”
“To obtain (immigrants) with compassion and generosity just isn’t solely an act of charity, but in addition a recognition of the dignity that belongs to each human particular person,” he informed america.
Pope says he needs to accompany, assist Lampedusans
Lampedusa, which lies between Tunisia, Malta and Sicily, sits on one of many world’s deadliest migration routes. Many migrants arrive after crossing the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats and makeshift vessels.
The go to echoed that of Pope Francis, who made Lampedusa the vacation spot of his first journey outdoors Rome after turning into pope in 2013.
Amongst these gathered close to Italy’s southernmost port to see the pope had been newly arrived migrants, Italian Coast Guard search-and-rescue officers and help teams.
Leo informed them he had come to indicate that the pope “continues to accompany you, assist you and encourage you”.
LAMPEDUSA, ITALY – JULY 04: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY – NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Leo XIV makes a cease on the “Gateway to Europe”, a monumental sculpture crafted from refractory ceramic and galvanised iron in order that it absorbs the solar’s gentle and serves as a beacon of hope for these arriving by sea, throughout his pastoral go to to this territory identified for being a touchdown level for migrants travelling from Africa to Europe by sea on July 04, 2026 in Lampedusa, Italy. (Photograph by Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media through Vatican Pool/Getty Photos)
Vatican Pool | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
The pope additionally known as on European leaders to sort out migration “in a complete method, integrating quick reduction efforts right into a long-term strategic plan able to receiving, defending, supporting and integrating migrants”.
He additionally known as on them to assist enhance circumstances in migrants’ house international locations in order that fewer individuals really feel compelled to depart.
“The pope’s go to speaks to each one in all us,” Kandeh Abdourahman, a migrant who arrived in Lampedusa in 2015 after travelling throughout 5 African international locations, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean, informed Reuters.
It’s “a reminder that our tales are seen, that welcome is not only a phrase however an act of humanity,” stated Abdourahman, now a cultural mediator with the Worldwide Rescue Committee.
A complete of 14,464 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea to date this 12 months, based on U.N. Refugee Company knowledge supplied to Reuters, with greater than half touchdown in Lampedusa. The determine exceeds the island’s resident inhabitants of about 6,000.
Greater than 1,400 individuals have died or gone lacking whereas trying to cross the Mediterranean this 12 months, together with 28 youngsters, based on the U.N.’s Worldwide Group for Migration.
Go to carries ‘ethical and political weight’
Since turning into pope in Might 2025, Leo has made assist for migrants a central theme of his papacy. Final month, he warned that historical past would decide harshly leaders who mistreat immigrants.
In his first main handle to the U.S. on Friday, he praised the nation’s historical past of welcoming immigrants and urged People to uphold the beliefs set out within the Declaration of Independence.
Arriving in Lampedusa shortly earlier than 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Saturday, Leo laid flowers at a neighborhood cemetery on the graves of migrants who died trying the Mediterranean crossing.
He additionally visited the “Door of Europe,” an artwork set up on Italy’s southernmost seashore devoted to migrants, strolling by way of the construction in the direction of the Mediterranean amid robust winds.
Tareke Brhane, an Eritrean-born migrant rights advocate who briefly greeted Leo, stated he was overcome with emotions from the go to.
“I acquired chills from the emotion,” stated Brhane, president of the October third Committee, an Italian non-profit established after a 2013 shipwreck in Lampedusa killed 368 migrants.
He stated he hoped the pope’s presence would push European leaders to create a registry figuring out migrants misplaced at sea.
Vatican officers stated the pope needed to underline his message of assist for migrants and intentionally timed the go to to coincide with the July 4 U.S. Independence Day vacation.
“Pope Leo XIV’s presence sends a transparent message at a time when the worldwide political debate on migration is usually framed round borders and deterrence slightly than safety and shared duty,” Anna Leer, an official with the U.N. Refugee Company, informed Reuters.
“Each act of witness to the humanity of those that flee violence, persecution and battle carries ethical and political weight,” she stated.
