Pope Leo Visits Lampedusa and Urges Europe on Migration
Pope Leo XIV visited Lampedusa on July 4. He paid tribute at a cemetery to migrants who died at sea.
He called on Europe to do more for migrants. Tens of thousands of people have died trying to reach Europe.
Pope Leo also stopped at the Gateway to Europe monument. He blessed a plaque renaming a local pier after Pope Francis.
Last month he visited Spain's Canary Islands. That is another major entry point for migrants into Europe.
There he spoke out against people smugglers. Pope Leo is the first US-born pope.
He has previously clashed with the Trump administration over immigration. The Lampedusa visit happened on the same day the United States marked 250 years since its Declaration of Independence.
Klear Note — Lampedusa is a small Italian island where many migrants arrive by boat from Africa. Thousands die crossing the Mediterranean Sea each year trying to reach Europe.
Key Terms 3
- Lampedusa Small Italian island close to Africa and a key migration arrival point
- Canary Islands Spanish islands off Africa's coast and a major migration entry point to Europe
- Declaration of Independence Document signed in 1776 that declared the United States a free nation