Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, spent the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on Saturday in Lampedusa, Italy. The island serves as a major port of call for migrants crossing from North Africa and stands as a symbol of the tragedy of those who die attempting to reach Europe. During his visit, the pontiff celebrated a solemn Mass for the island's newest arrivals and prayed at a migrant cemetery to honor the tens of thousands who have died seeking freedom and prosperity.
In a letter sent to Americans on the July 4 anniversary, Pope Leo XIV urged the U.S. to continue welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants, noting that their hopes, sacrifices, and contributions have helped shape the nation's character in every generation. The pontiff stressed that the Catholic value of defending all human life and dignity includes the protection of immigrants.
The trip to the migration frontline underscored a stark message for Europe and the United States as intolerance and indifference rise. Pope Leo XIV used the visit to call on both the U.S. and EU to change their migration strategies, serving as a symbolic rebuke to anti-immigrant rhetoric. This follows previous tensions with Donald Trump, whose hardline anti-immigration policies the pope called inhumane last year.