Pope marks July 4 by praying in Lampedusa for migrants who died seeking freedom and prosperity
He called for safe, legal pathways as more than 1,400 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean this year, the IOM said.
- On Saturday, July 4, 2026, Pope Leo XIV visited the Italian island of Lampedusa to urge European leaders to improve migrant protection and integration efforts amid the perilous Mediterranean crossing.
- Marking the United States' 250th anniversary of independence, the American Pope addressed migration after repeatedly clashing with President Donald Trump over his administration's anti-immigration policies.
- Pope Leo prayed at unmarked graves of shipwreck victims, then stood at the 'Door of Europe' monument where he met a migrant family to acknowledge the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.
- The pontiff called on Europe to integrate immediate relief efforts into a long-term strategic plan for migrants, noting more than 1,400 people have died or gone missing attempting the crossing this year.
- Filippo Ungaro, spokesman for the UN's refugee agency UNHCR, stated the visit sends a clear message against framing migration debate around borders and deterrence rather than protection and shared responsibility.
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Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
Pope Leo XIV urged Americans to embrace immigrant rights while accepting the 2026 Liberty Medal in Philadelphia, then traveled to Lampedusa to advocate for migrants in Europe.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church was found on the island that has been closely linked to the issue.
During a visit to the Italian island, the main gateway of African migration to Europe, the pontiff warned that those who died in the Mediterranean “are victims of decisions taken or decisions omitted” and called for a broader response to the migration phenomenon.
Leo XIV has visited the Italian island of Lampedusa. The first American Pope chose to spend the feast day of July 4 with migrants instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of his native country in the US, although he was invited by Vice President JD Vance shortly after his election. During a mass on the island, situated on a major route from Africa to Europe, Leo called for more to be done for the many migrants, nearly 15,000 this year alone…
On the occasion of the 4th of July, the day on which the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, American Pope Leo XIV on Saturday the…
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