Pope Leo used Lampedusa to urge the United States to welcome migrants

Pope Leo XIV visited Italy’s Lampedusa island on the 250th anniversary of US independence and appealed to the United States to welcome, protect and assist migrants. Lampedusa is a major entry point for Africans crossing the Mediterranean to Europe. More than 14,000 people have reached Italy by sea this year, over half via Lampedusa, while more than 1,400 have died or gone missing in Mediterranean crossings.