Pope Leo XIV chose the Fourth of July to visit Lampedusa, the small Sicilian island that sits at the center of Europe's migration debate, where he prayed at a migrant cemetery and celebrated Mass for the island's residents and those who had recently arrived.
The visit came as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. According to CBS News, the U.S.-born pope has previously clashed with the Trump administration over its immigration policies.
Lampedusa is a treeless strip of rock 5.6 miles long. It sits closer to Africa than to the Italian mainland and serves as the main entry point into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross by boat from Libya or Tunisia, many of them smuggled by human traffickers.
Leo met with migrants at the port and then walked alone onto the island's jagged jetty rocks. The wind blew his zucchetto skullcap off as he looked out toward the sea. He then blessed a plaque dedicating the dock to Pope Francis, who had visited the island in 2013.
"This is a place where gestures speak louder than words," Leo said. "But for gestures to be human, they need a heart."
In his homily, Leo thanked the residents of Lampedusa for what he called the "miracle of compassion" they had shown to arriving migrants over the years.
In a letter sent to Americans on the anniversary, Leo connected immigration directly to American history. "To receive them with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person," he wrote. He also wrote that protecting the unborn and all human life means "welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning."
Later on Saturday, Leo made a stop that is unusual for a sitting pope. He visited the residence of U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch. Popes rarely call on ambassadors. The U.S. Embassy said Burch gave Leo a commemorative baseball, an apple pie, and a U.S. World Cup jersey. The Embassy wrote on social media that Leo confirmed he was rooting for the U.S. team and that the two discussed "American efforts to pursue peace, religious freedom and the need for moral clarity and courage around the world."
