LAMPEDUSA, ITALY — Pope Leo XIV visited Lampedusa, Italy, on July 4, 2026. During his visit, he attended the Gateway to Europe monument, celebrated a public Mass, and placed flowers on the graves of migrants in a cemetery. During the Mass, Pope Leo XIV stated, "The Gospel resounds where peoples meet, people welcome one another, their lives intertwine, and different cultures engage in dialogue." The visit also included honoring those who died attempting to reach Europe.

Lampedusa has approximately 6,000 residents. The island is geographically closer to Tunisia than to mainland Italy. In September 2023, approximately 12,500 migrants arrived on the island in a single day, and approximately 100,000 migrants arrived over a 10-month period ending in mid-2024.

Migrants found on shore or rescued by the Italian coast guard in Lampedusa spend a few days at a processing center. They are then sent to facilities in other parts of Italy. The Italian Red Cross runs the migration processing center in Lampedusa.

Francesca Basile, head of the Migration Operations Unit for the Italian Red Cross, noted the coordination among those assisting migrants. "There is a very good network working together. This is the key aspect," Basile said. She emphasized the priority given to the treatment of migrants, stating, "Our first principle is humanity. What we really need is to give dignity."

Salvatore Sortino, director of the International Organization for Migration's coordination office for the Mediterranean, described the local response as containing an element of coordination. "Migration is so politicized, but here, there is an element of coordination that is a kind of best practices," Sortino said. He added, "There is a pride in this humanitarian spirit." The European Union amended its system for processing refugees in June 2026.