Harry Archie
Pope Leo XIV visited the Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday to show support for migrants risking dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea from Africa to Europe.
The visit comes as the European Union introduces tougher migration rules and amid the pope’s criticism of the United States’ treatment of migrants.
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During his visit, Pope Leo honoured migrants who died while trying to cross the sea.
He visited the island’s cemetery, where many unidentified migrants are buried, and stopped at the Door of Europe monument.
He also met a migrant family and celebrated Mass.
The pope is expected to call for safer and legal ways for people to migrate.
He has repeatedly spoken against mass deportations and urged governments to treat migrants with dignity and compassion.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Central Mediterranean route remains the world’s deadliest migration route.
About 1,330 people died or went missing there last year.
More than 14,000 migrants arrived in Italy during the first half of 2026, with nearly 60 percent landing on Lampedusa, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
