Pope urges Europe to do more for migrants while visiting gateway island

Pope Leo XIV, during a visit to Lampedusa, urged European leaders to address the "momentous challenge" of migration. On the island, which receives tens of thousands of migrants each year, he held a mass and called for better integration of newcomers and improved conditions in their countries of origin.

The Pope stated that "those who have lost their lives in this sea are victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made." Since becoming head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, he has repeatedly called for greater support for migrants and criticized anti-migrant policies.

His trip comes two weeks after the EU approved tougher migration rules allowing stricter border controls and broader detention powers, reflecting a broader trend of governments hardening their stance on undocumented migration, including in the UK and Italy.

The Pope began the visit at a cemetery on Lampedusa, praying at the graves of migrants who died while attempting the dangerous journey from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean. He also stood at the "Door of Europe" memorial and spoke with a migrant family.

"From this far-flung corner of Europe on the Mediterranean Sea, one can more clearly perceive the momentous challenge that the phenomenon of migration poses to European societies," the Pope told Catholics on the island. He added that "Europe is capable of addressing the crisis in this region in a comprehensive manner, integrating immediate relief efforts into a long-term strategic plan capable of receiving, protecting, supporting and integrating migrants" while "assisting developing countries so that no one is forced to emigrate."

Lampedusa, located 90 miles (145 km) off Tunisia's coast, houses a migrant reception center that is overcrowded. The journey often involves poorly maintained and overcrowded vessels, making crossings perilous. According to the UN's International Organization for Migration, more than 1,400 people have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean this year, including 28 children.

New migrants, rescue officials, aid group members, and the Italian Coast Guard gathered to see the Pope. "The pope's visit speaks to every one of us," said Kandeh Abdourahman, a migrant who arrived in Lampedusa in 2015 and now works as a cultural mediator with the International Rescue Committee. "It is a reminder that our stories are seen, that welcome is not just a word but an act of humanity."