Pope Leo marked the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence by issuing a powerful appeal to Americans, urging them to welcome and protect immigrants. In a letter sent to his home country, the pontiff emphasized that the Catholic principle of defending life encompasses ‘welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants.’ He told the United States, ‘To receive immigrants with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person.’ The message was delivered while Pope Leo was visiting Lampedusa, Italy’s frontline island for migrants. The pontiff also called on the global community to become ‘more human’ and extend aid to those fleeing conflict and poverty. During his day trip to Lampedusa, a crucial entry point for migrants undertaking perilous Mediterranean crossings from Africa into Europe, Pope Leo pressed European leaders to intensify their efforts to assist arrivals, which have exceeded 7,000 this year. He also called on European leaders to tackle migration ‘in a comprehensive manner, integrating immediate relief efforts into a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting and integrating migrants.’ Pope Leo’s visit echoed that of Pope Francis, who made Lampedusa the destination of his first trip outside Rome after becoming pope in 2013.
Among those gathered near Italy’s southernmost port to see the pope were newly arrived migrants, Italian Coast Guard search-and-rescue officials, and aid groups. Leo told them he had come to show that the pope ‘continues to accompany you, support you and encourage you.’ Last year, Pope Leo drew criticism from President Donald Trump after labeling the U.S. president’s stringent anti-immigration policies as inhumane. In his first major address to the U.S. on Friday, Pope Leo praised the country’s history of welcoming immigrants and urged Americans to uphold the ideals set out in the Declaration of Independence. The visit carried significant moral and political weight, with Vatican officials saying the pope wanted to underline his message of support for migrants and deliberately timed the visit to coincide with the July 4 U.S.
Independence Day holiday. Anna Leer, an official with the U.N. Refugee Agency, said, ‘Pope Leo’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.’ A total of 14,464 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea so far this year, according to U.N.
Refugee Agency data, with more than half landing in Lampedusa. The figure exceeds the island’s resident population of 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 U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.
