Lampedusa, Italy —
On July 4, Pope Leo
In a letter released shortly after arriving on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, the pope said protecting human life meant “welcoming, protecting and supporting migrants” and that the “hopes, sacrifices and contributions” of migrants have formed part of America’s history.
The first American pope began his visit with “Gateway to Europe,” an artwork commemorating the thousands of migrants who died or went missing while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
Leo took a moment to mourn, looking out at the blue sea as a gust of wind blew away his white zucchetto (skull cap).
Two prominent leaders of the U.S. Catholic Church told CNN that Pope Leo’s July 4 visit to the island, which is a major port of entry into Europe for hundreds of thousands of mostly African immigrants, sends a message to the United States about immigration.
“Those who have come in search of freedom, opportunity, and a place in every generation have helped shape the character of this country,” the Pope said in a letter commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“Helping them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity of every human being.”
On Friday, in a speech at the Medal of Freedom ceremony in Philadelphia, the Pope praised the country’s history of welcoming new immigrants, recalling how it “opened itself to successive waves of immigrants, allowing them and their children to play a role in shaping the country’s future.”
On Lampedusa, we visited a cemetery with a section for immigrants. Among those buried was six-month-old Yusuf Ali Khanneh, who drowned in a migrant boat wreck in 2020. He also met with migrants and blessed the dedication plaque to Pope Francis, who made a shocking visit to the island in 2013.
One of the people he met, a boy named Leo who came to the island 10 years ago after losing his mother, said he gave the boy with his name a letter and a ball that he hoped would be passed down to other immigrant children.
“I am so looking forward to meeting you! Ten years ago, my story began here in Lampedusa. I was alone and lost everything, especially my mother. It is said that I stopped crying only when they gave me the ball. From that day on, the ball remained in my heart and I never stopped playing,” the letter said.
“I sincerely hope that this ball that I am giving you now can reach other children and make them happy just like it did me.”
The Chicago-born pope was greeted by a singing, flag-waving crowd at an outdoor mass, the main event of his visit. He greeted the crowd and called for gestures that would make “the world today and tomorrow…more human.”
In his homily, the pope called on European leaders to develop plans to “receive, protect, support and integrate migrants” and to “support developing countries so that no one is forced to migrate.”
He added: “This is a challenge not only for public institutions, but also for civil society as a whole and the church.”
