Pope Leo XIV’s Advocacy for Migrants and His Relationship with US Politics

Pope Leo XIV marked a visit on Saturday to pay tribute to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint and patroness of migrants. During the visit, he renewed his appeal on behalf of migrants, encouraging Catholics to follow Cabrini’s example, especially as migration continues to be a pivotal issue in his papacy.

Pope Leo XIV has made migration a key focus of his public service, creating friction with President Donald Trump due to differing views on immigration and foreign affairs. He emphasized the relevance of a missionary spirit dedicated to serving migrants, speaking during an evening prayer service in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the town where Cabrini was born.

Pope Leo XIV stated, “What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?” The American-born pope encouraged young Catholics to learn from Cabrini’s life, noting that many immigrants have left their homelands in search of better opportunities.

During the celebration at the parish of Santi Antonio Abate e Francesca Cabrini in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Pope Leo XIV also reflected on the legacy of Pope Francis, whose papacy was partly defined by welcoming migrants.

“Let us ask ourselves: if Mother Francesca were alive today, what would her missionary spirit tell her? And what would a pope like Francis — who, as the son of Italian immigrants, made service to migrants one of the key priorities of his pontificate — ask of her?” he remarked.

These comments are part of Pope Leo XIV’s efforts to focus on migration during his first year as pope. Previously, he visited Spain’s Canary Islands, a common destination for migrants from West Africa, urging efforts to welcome and integrate those fleeing hardship.

Pope Leo XIV’s migration advocacy has been met with criticism from Trump, who argues that the pontiff is delving into politics. Some of his comments on immigration have been contentious, leading to an intricate relationship between the Vatican and Washington.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to meet Vatican officials amidst tensions between the Holy See and the Trump administration. Pope Leo XIV counters claims of political intentions, insisting that his appeals are driven by Catholic teachings on human dignity, peace, and care for the vulnerable.

This Saturday’s visit revitalized focus on Cabrini, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen and spent decades serving Italian immigrants through schools, hospitals, and orphanages until passing away in Chicago in 1917.

The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming trip to Lampedusa on July 4. Lampedusa, a major migration point in Europe, symbolizes the dangerous journeys migrants endure from North Africa. Pope Francis visited Lampedusa on his first trip outside Rome after becoming pope in 2013, underlining its importance to the Catholic Church.