Pope Leo delivered remarks highlighting the United States’ historical role as a destination for migrants, calling on the nation to remain faithful to its foundational principles of freedom and opportunity. Speaking from the Vatican while receiving the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, he referenced the country’s founding ideals and expressed hope that values of unity, justice, and peace would guide the nation as it marked its 250th anniversary.
The pontiff’s address came as he visited Lampedusa, an island off southern Italy that serves as a primary entry point for people crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa. During the visit, he met with recently arrived migrants, Italian coastguard personnel, and humanitarian organizations. Leo called on European leaders to develop comprehensive migration strategies that combine immediate assistance with long-term planning for receiving, protecting, and integrating migrants. He also urged improvements in conditions within migrants’ countries of origin to reduce the necessity for people to leave their homes.
The papal visit and remarks reflected ongoing tensions between the pontiff and the Trump administration regarding immigration policy. Leo previously called for reflection on detention practices in the US and has made migration a central focus of his papacy. Vice President JD Vance had characterized the Vatican’s immigration positions as troubling. Leo has not accepted an invitation to visit the White House, and the US does not appear on his travel schedule for the year.
Lampedusa, located closer to Tunisia than to mainland Italy, has processed more than 182,000 people through its reception center in the past three years, according to Vatican News reporting on Italian Red Cross data. The International Organization for Migration has documented tens of thousands of deaths in Mediterranean crossings since 2014, with nearly 1,000 people reported dead or missing between January and early April alone. The pope’s scheduled activities included celebrating mass and speaking with migrants and aid workers before his departure.
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