Pope Leo XIV visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, a stopover point for African refugees heading to Europe, and urged the United States and Europe to embrace immigrants.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press on July 4, the pope said in a letter to Americans marking US Independence Day that "immigrants have become part of American history through their hopes, sacrifices and contributions." He added that "welcoming immigrants with compassion and generosity is not merely charity, but recognition of the dignity given to every human being."
Before the letter was released, the pope visited Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost island, and paid tribute at the graves of refugees who died crossing the Mediterranean. He then celebrated Mass for island residents and recently arrived immigrants. He also called on European nations to develop long-term strategies for protecting immigrants and promoting social integration. In particular, he stressed that efforts should not stop at emergency relief, but should also include support for the development of refugees' home countries so that they are not forced to leave.
Pope Leo XIV has made the refugee issue a key pastoral priority. He has criticized the Donald Trump administration's hardline immigration policy, saying immigrants in the United States are being treated in an "extremely contemptuous" manner. Vatican officials said the pope scheduled his visit to Lampedusa to coincide with US Independence Day in order to emphasize his message of support for immigrants.
Although Lampedusa is Italian territory, it is closer to Tunisia in Africa than to Sicily in the south, making it a major stopover point for African refugees heading to Europe. According to the UN Refugee Agency, about 60% of the 14,464 immigrants who arrived in Italy by sea this year passed through Lampedusa. Last year, about 1,330 people died or went missing while crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa toward Europe. The late Pope Francis also chose Lampedusa as his first destination outside Rome after his enthronement in 2013. The pier where refugees arrive on the island has now been renamed "Pope Francis Pier." Pope Leo XIV blessed a monument inscribed with the words "a place of arrival, hope and humanity."
