Pope Leo XIV on Saturday visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, one of Europe’s main entry points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Africa, in a trip widely seen as a renewed call for more humane migration policies.
The visit coincided with the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebrations and came amid growing international debate over migration, including the European Union’s recent approval of stricter migration rules that expand detention powers and allow deportation centres outside the bloc.
The Chicago-born pontiff, who has repeatedly criticised harsh immigration policies and mass deportations, has made the protection of migrants a central priority of his papacy, continuing the approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
During the half-day visit, Pope Leo was expected to advocate safe and legal migration pathways while urging governments to balance border security with humanitarian responsibility.
UNHCR spokesperson Filippo Ungaro said the Pope’s presence on the Mediterranean island sends a strong message at a time when migration debates are increasingly focused on border control rather than protection and shared responsibility.
Located about 145 kilometres off the Tunisian coast, Lampedusa has become a symbol of both hope and tragedy for migrants attempting the dangerous Central Mediterranean crossing. The island witnessed one of its deadliest shipwrecks in 2013, when more than 360 migrants died, while thousands more have lost their lives on the route over the years.
Pope Leo began his visit at the cemetery where unidentified migrants are buried before visiting the “Door of Europe” monument dedicated to migrants. He also met with a migrant family and later travelled to the island’s pier, where rescued migrants are brought ashore.
At the waterfront, the pontiff blessed a plaque honouring Pope Francis, who made Lampedusa the destination of his first papal trip in 2013, before celebrating Mass at a nearby sports field.
The visit marked Pope Leo’s second trip to one of Europe’s migration hotspots, following his visit to Spain’s Canary Islands last month, where he condemned human trafficking and renewed calls for humane treatment of migrants.
In a speech marking the United States’ 250th anniversary on Friday, Pope Leo called for moderation in public discourse and acknowledged the role of successive waves of immigrants in shaping the country’s history.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Central Mediterranean remains the world’s deadliest migration route, underscoring the need for stronger search-and-rescue operations.
UNHCR data shows that more than 14,000 migrants arrived in Italy during the first half of the year, with nearly 60 per cent landing in Lampedusa after departing mainly from Libya.
