SouthernWorldwide.com – Pope Leo XIV used a visit honoring St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint and patron saint of immigrants, to deliver his latest appeal on behalf of migrants. This appeal comes at a time when migration is a defining issue of his papacy.
The Pope’s remarks were made during an evening prayer service in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the northern Italian town where Cabrini was born. He emphasized the relevance of a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants in today’s world.
Pope Leo XIV prayed at Cabrini’s tomb and encouraged young Catholics to learn from her life of service to immigrants. Many of these immigrants had left their homelands seeking better opportunities.
The pontiff also invoked his predecessor, Pope Francis, whose papacy was partly defined by his calls to welcome migrants. Leo questioned what Mother Francesca’s missionary spirit would advise today and what a pope like Francis, who prioritized serving migrants as the son of Italian immigrants, would ask of her.
These comments are the latest in a series of migration-focused appearances that have shaped Pope Leo’s first year as pope. His advocacy for migrants has become a central focus of his public ministry.
Last week, Pope Leo traveled to Spain’s Canary Islands, a significant destination for migrants from West Africa. There, he met with migrants and called for increased efforts to welcome and integrate those fleeing hardship and conflict.
During his trip to the Canary Islands, Leo urged world leaders to establish “legal and safe pathways” for migration. He also cautioned against reducing migrants to mere statistics.
Pope Leo’s advocacy on migration has frequently drawn criticism from President Donald Trump. Trump has accused the pontiff of venturing into politics and has sharply disagreed with some of Leo’s comments on immigration and foreign affairs.
These public disagreements have become a notable aspect of the relationship between the Vatican and Washington during Pope Leo’s papacy. The contrast in their approaches to immigration has garnered significant attention.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to meet with Vatican officials and Italian leaders. This meeting was anticipated during a period of heightened tensions between the Holy See and the Trump administration.
Pope Leo has refuted suggestions that his remarks are political attacks. He argues that his appeals are rooted in Catholic teachings on human dignity, peace, and the care for vulnerable people.
Saturday’s visit specifically centered on St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen and dedicated decades to serving Italian immigrants through schools, hospitals, and orphanages before her death in Chicago in 1917.
The Vatican has also announced that Pope Leo will travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 4. This date is likely to attract attention in the United States, given the pope’s American roots.
Lampedusa has become a prominent migration flashpoint in Europe due to the thousands of migrants who undertake dangerous crossings from North Africa annually. The island also holds symbolic importance within the Catholic Church, as it was the destination of Pope Francis’s first trip outside Rome after becoming pope in 2013.
