Pope Honors Migrants

Pope Leo XIV marked July 4 in Lampedusa, Sicily, praying at a migrant cemetery for people who died trying to reach Europe across the Mediterranean. The visit placed the first American-born pope at the center of Europe’s migration debate as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Leo also issued a letter for America’s semiquincentennial urging the country to continue “welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants.” He met with the U.S. ambassador during the trip, after criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.