On Lampedusa, Pope Leo appealed for compassion and concrete policies to receive migrants. He also sent a written plea to Americans to protect immigrants.

Lampedusa, Italy, July 4 – during a visit to the front line of migration in Europe, the Pope Leo addressed Americans with a request to welcome and protect immigrants in a written appeal sent to the United States during his stay on the island of Lampedusa.

Pope Leo, who last year was sharply criticized by Donald Trump for his harsh immigration policy, also urged the world to become “more humane” and to help those fleeing war and poverty.

During a daytime visit to Lampedusa – the island that has become a gateway for migrants from Africa attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe – the pope urged European leaders to do more for the arrivals, whose numbers this year exceeded 7,000.

In a separate address to the United States on the occasion of their Independence Day, Leo stated that the Christian value of protecting life includes “welcoming, protecting, and helping immigrants”.

Welcoming immigrants with compassion and generosity is not only an act of mercy, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human being.

– Pope Leo

THE POPE WANTS TO ACCOMPANY THE LAMPEDUSAN

Lampedusa, lying between Tunisia, Malta and Sicily, sits on one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. Many migrants arrive by sea in overcrowded boats and improvised vessels.

The visit repeats the path of Pope Francis, who made Lampedusa his first stop outside Rome after taking office in 2013.

Among those present near the port were newly arrived migrants, representatives of the coast guard, and volunteer groups.

Leo said he had come to show that the Pope “continues to accompany you, to support you and to encourage you”.

In addition, he urged European leaders to view migration in a holistic manner – combining immediate aid with a long-term plan able to receive, protect, support and integrate migrants, as well as improving conditions in countries of origin to reduce the migration flow.

“The Pope’s visit draws everyone’s attention,” said Kandeh Abdourahman, a migrant who reached Lampedusa in 2015 after travelling through five African countries, the Sahara and the Mediterranean.

The Pope’s visit draws everyone’s attention.

– Kandeh Abdourahman

According to UNHCR, this year 14,464 migrants arrived by sea to Italy, more than half of them on Lampedusa, which exceeds the local population of about 6,000.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1,400 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean this year, including 28 children.

“MORAL AND POLITICAL IMPACT” OF THE VISIT

Since his election in May 2025, Leo has made migrant support a key theme of his pontificate. In his first major address to the United States he praised the country’s history of welcoming immigrants and urged Americans to adhere to the principles carved in the Declaration of Independence.

Arriving on Lampedusa before 9:00 a.m. local time, Leo laid flowers on the graves of migrants at a local cemetery and visited the so-called “Gates of Europe” – an art installation on the southern coast of Italy, walking through the structure toward the sea in strong wind.

Tareke Brahane, an Eritrean-born migrant rights advocate who welcomed the Pope, said he felt a wide range of emotions from the visit. “I got goosebumps from the emotions,” he said, the head of the organization since the 2013 disaster when 368 migrants died near Lampedusa.

He expressed hope that the Pope’s presence would prompt European leaders to create a registry of disappearances during sea stops, to better honor the dead and help the families.

The Vatican stressed that the aim of the visit was to emphasize support for migrants and to coincide with the U.S. Independence Day celebration.

The presence of Pope Leo XIV sends a clear message at a time when the global political discussion on migration is often reduced to borders and containment, rather than protection and shared responsibility.

– Anna Leer

All this serves as a reminder of the responsibility of the world community and the importance of every migrant’s story. The visit of Pope Leo XIV underscores the need for action toward a more humane approach to migration and a shared responsibility for human dignity.