Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for compassion toward migrants during a visit to honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in northern Italy on Saturday.
Speaking during an evening prayer service in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the birthplace of Cabrini, the pope praised her lifelong mission of helping immigrants and encouraged Catholics to follow her example. He described migration as one of the most significant issues facing the world today and asked believers to consider how Cabrini’s dedication to newcomers could inspire modern society.
Leo also referenced his predecessor, Pope Francis, noting that service to migrants was a major focus of Francis’ papacy. He said the Church should continue supporting people who leave their homelands seeking safety, opportunity, or a better life.
The remarks are the latest in a series of public appearances where Pope Leo has emphasized migration issues. Earlier this month, he visited the Canary Islands, a major arrival point for migrants traveling from West Africa, where he called for safer and more legal migration pathways.
The pope’s stance has at times placed him at odds with Donald Trump and members of his administration, who have criticized some of the Vatican’s comments on immigration policy. Leo has maintained that his views are rooted in Catholic teachings on human dignity and care for vulnerable people rather than politics.
The visit focused on Cabrini’s legacy in the United States, where she became a citizen and spent decades establishing schools, hospitals, and orphanages for immigrant communities before her death in Chicago in 1917.
The Vatican has also announced that Pope Leo will travel to Lampedusa on July 4, a destination closely associated with migration issues and one that carries strong symbolic significance within the Catholic Church.
