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

BBC News ^ | July 4, 2026 | Parul Gupta

[MinorityRepublican]

Pope Leo XIV has called on European leaders to rise to the "momentous challenge" of handling migration as he visited the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The pontiff urged Europe to help new arrivals integrate better and improve conditions in their home countries, during a mass on the island, which receives tens of thousands of migrants a year.

"Those who have lost their lives in this sea are victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made," the Pope said.

Since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, the Pope has repeatedly called for greater support for migrants and criticised anti-migrant policies.

His trip comes two weeks after the EU approved tougher migrants rules that allow stricter border controls and broader detention powers.

It marks a wider trend of governments hardening their stance on undocumented migration, with many, including the UK and Italy, adopting measures aimed at deterring it.

The Pope began the trip with a visit to a cemetery on Lampedusa and prayed at the graves of migrants who had died while making the dangerous journey from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.

---

TOPICS: European Union
KEYWORDS:

[Claud]

Why do I read that headline, see that byline, and think actually that’s probably not exactly what he said. Hmm.

[BenLurkin]

Start with free castrations for every man and boy.

[Orosius]

Provide them with transport back to where they came from. The end.

[Petrosius]

The best, and most humane, solution would be immediate and summary deportation, taking away the incentive to make the dangerous trip.

[dfwgator]

Stay in your lane, Prevost.

[Highest Authority]

The first moslem Pope?

[wild74]

I imagine he does since he ain’t flipping the bill for his woke agenda Virtue signaling his compassion and Christianity for all to see I don’t buy his hypocrisy

[KittyKares]

“...frequently putting him at odds with US President Donald Trump, whose anti-immigration stance he has called “inhuman”.”

Wanting to protect one’s people is inhuman? How about if he addresses the leaders of those countries who make life so miserable for their people that they want to flee? What is their responsibility?

[ridesthemiles]

MAYBE HE COULD RELEASE A LIST OF THE IMMIGRANTS TAKEN INTO THE VATICAN-—BEHIND 16 FOOT WALL.
EACH & EVERY ONE

[Uncle Miltie]

F the “pope”.

And I say that as a supporter of traditional Catholicism for Christians.

[albie]

Yes indeed! July can be “rape all you like” month! Oh darn. That’s every month. I forgot.

[Starboard]

Since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, the Pope has repeatedly called for greater support for migrants and criticised anti-migrant policies.

**********

And yet the Vatican takes in no immigrants. None. Zero.

[vaskypilot]

Trump is not anti immigrant; he is anti illegal immigrant.

[Steve_Seattle1]

"Since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, the Pope has repeatedly called for greater support for migrants and criticized anti-migrant policies."

Because he's a moron who either can't see what is happening right in front of his face or he's hoping for the destruction of Western Civilization. Western governments are already spending mega-billions to support mass immigration, and they are doing it at the expense of their native populations. I firmly believe that if this pope were given the choice of submitting to Islam or losing his head, he would convert to Islam.

[escapefromboston]

They aren’t migrants

[Steve_Seattle1]

"Trump is not anti immigrant; he is anti illegal immigrant."

Yep. He's married to a legal immigrant.

[joshua c]

Is the pope commie?

Paraphrasing

[ealgeone]

Then the pope can open up Vatican City. It’s a pretty big place. Could hold thousands.

[MinorityRepublican]

Taking a look at Christianity, it is clear to me that most "leaders" are either Marxists or feeble appeasers.

The West had the similar problem in the run up to WWII (before Churchill).