Pope Leo has urged his fellow Americans to welcome and protect immigrants as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence on Saturday. During a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa he also pressed Europe to do more for people fleeing war and poverty.
Issued on: 04/07/2026 - 14:10
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In a letter sent to Americans on the July 4 anniversary, US-born Pope Leo insisted that protecting the unborn and all human life also means “welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning". “To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person,” Leo wrote. The Pope had criticised US President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies before becoming head of the Catholic Church. The letter came a day after he described how "successive waves of immigrants" had played a role in building the United States. In a video address to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, he said the word "America" was a "byword for freedom" around the world due to the way the country has welcomed immigrants. During a day trip on Saturday to Lampedusa, a gateway for migrants risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings into Europe from Africa, the pope urged European leaders to do more to assist arrivals, which have topped 7,000 this year. Vatican officials said Leo deliberately timed the visit to coincide with the US Independence Day holiday to underline his support for migrants. Pope condemns 'indifference' towards migrants on Canaries trip Addressing the crisis Situated between Tunisia, Malta and Sicily, many migrants arrive in Lampedusa after making dangerous sea crossings in overcrowded and makeshift boats. The Pope laid flowers at a cemetery where migrants who died attempting the Mediterranean crossing are buried. He also visited the Door of Europe, a monument dedicated to migrants on Italy's southernmost beach, walking through the structure towards the sea in strong winds. He then blessed a plaque dedicating the dock to Pope Francis, who visited in 2013, before celebrating Mass on land. “This is a place where gestures speak louder than words,” Leo said. “But for gestures to be human, they need a heart.” Adressing newly arrived migrants, Italian Coast Guard search-and-rescue officials and aid groups, Leo said he had come to show that the pope "continues to accompany you, support you and encourage you". The Pope also urged European leaders to improve their response to the "momentous challenge" of migration, urging the EU to adopt a strategic approach to integrating new arrivals, as well as improving lives in developing countries. "Europe is capable of addressing the crisis – in this region – in a comprehensive manner, integrating immediate relief efforts into a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting and integrating migrants," he told a crowd of faithful. Leo's visit comes just two weeks after the European Union's approval of new migrant rules allowing much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. Pope Francis to sound alarm over migrant tragedies during Marseille visit Clear message "The pope's visit speaks to every one of us," said Kandeh Abdourahman, a migrant who reached Lampedusa in 2015 after travelling across five African countries, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean and who now works as a cultural mediator with the International Rescue Committee. "It is a reminder that our stories are seen, that welcome is not just a word but an act of humanity." Since becoming pope in May 2025, Leo has made support for migrants a central theme of his papacy. Last month he warned that history would judge leaders harshly if they mistreated immigrants. "Pope Leo XIV's presence sends a clear message at a time when the global political debate on migration is often framed around borders and deterrence rather than protection and shared responsibility," said Anna Leer, an official with the UN Refugee Agency. "Every act of witness to the humanity of those who flee violence, persecution and conflict carries moral and political weight." A total of 14,464 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea so far this year, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency. Around 60 percent landed in Lampedusa, whose resident population is about 6,000. More than 1,400 people have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year, including 28 children, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration. (with newswires)
