
Pope Leo XIV urges compassionate welcome to migrants on Lampedusa
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, visited Lampedusa on July 4 to urge Americans to welcome immigrants with compassion and generosity, saying protecting human life means welcoming and assisting migrants whose hopes and contributions helped shape the United States. He spoke at the Door to Europe memorial, observed a cemetery for migrants, and met migrants—including a boy named Leo who gave him a ball—before delivering an open-air Mass. He urged European leaders and civil society to receive, protect, support and integrate migrants and to help developing countries so no one is forced to emigrate, echoing themes he highlighted in Philadelphia during his Liberty Medal address.













