Pope Leo XIV visited the birthplace of Mother Frances Cabrini, the first American saint, to honor her work with migrants. He urged young people to learn from her example and emphasized the church's commitment to welcoming migrants.
Pope Leo XIV's emphasis on Mother Cabrini as a model for migrant care underscores the Catholic Church's continued focus on immigration issues, potentially influencing policy discussions and humanitarian efforts globally.
Pope Leo XIV visited Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy, on Saturday to honor Mother Frances Cabrini, the first American saint, designating her as a model for Christians in their care for migrants. During his day trip to northern Italy, Leo prayed at Cabrini’s tomb in a basilica named for her and presided over an evening prayer service, emphasizing her life’s work with immigrants.
Leo encouraged young people to learn about Cabrini’s dedication to serving those who have left their homes to seek a better life, drawing parallels to the pontificate of Pope Francis. He questioned what Cabrini’s missionary spirit would dictate today and what a pope like Francis would ask of her.
This visit aligns with Leo’s broader ministry to migrants, including a recent two-day trip to Spain’s Canary Islands. He is also scheduled to visit Lampedusa on July 4, a significant location for migrants and a place Pope Francis visited early in his papacy. The Pope’s engagement with migrant issues has previously led to clashes with the Trump administration.
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo XIV stopped in Pavia to pray at the tomb of St. Augustine, a figure central to his religious order, and encouraged Italians to reconnect with their Catholic faith amidst secularizing trends in Europe. He highlighted Augustine’s conversion and significant contributions to Western thought as inspiration for contemporary believers.
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