Pope Leo XIV on Saturday exalted Mother Frances Cabrini, the first American saint, as a model for Christians today to care for migrants in need during a visit to her birthplace in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy. The pontiff prayed before Cabrini's tomb in a basilica named for her and presided over an evening prayer service, part of his summertime grand tour of Italian cities.
Cabrini, known as the patron saint of migrants, worked extensively with Italian immigrants in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. She crisscrossed the globe building schools, hospitals and orphanages for those in need before dying in 1917 as a naturalized U.S. citizen in Chicago. She was canonized in 1946.
What the Right Is Saying
Some conservative commentators have questioned whether religious leaders should weigh in on national immigration policy, arguing that such decisions should be made by elected officials accountable to voters. Others note that while charitable work with migrants is admirable, nations retain the right to control their borders and set enforcement priorities.
Catholic leaders aligned with more nationalist-leaning political movements have argued that Church teaching can coexist with secure borders, suggesting that legal immigration pathways and enforcement of existing laws are not mutually exclusive positions. Some Republican officials have pushed back against criticism from Vatican leadership, arguing that border security measures protect both citizens and migrants through orderly processes.
Leo plans to visit Lampedusa on July 4, U.S. Independence Day, an act some observers view as pointed commentary given his disagreements with the Trump administration over immigration policy.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Catholic leaders and immigration advocates praised Leo's visit to Cabrini's hometown as a continuation of Pope Francis's legacy of prioritizing migrants. The pontiff referenced Francis directly during his remarks, asking what the late pope's missionary spirit would ask of today's faithful.
"What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?" Leo said. He urged young people in particular to learn about Cabrini by reading her writings and travel journals. Immigration rights organizations have long cited Cabrini as an example of faith-based service to newcomers, arguing her work demonstrates that caring for refugees aligns with Christian teaching.
The visit carries added significance given Leo's recent public disagreements with the Trump administration over its immigration enforcement. Last week, Leo spent two days in Spain's Canary Islands, a major destination for migrants from West Africa, calling for welcoming and integrating those fleeing hardship.
What the Numbers Show
Mother Cabrini founded 67 institutions across multiple continents during her lifetime, including schools, hospitals and orphanages. She personally traveled more than 500,000 miles ministering to immigrant communities in Europe, North America, Central America and South America. The Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City estimates that by the time of her death in 1917, her organizations had served hundreds of thousands of people.
The Canary Islands received approximately 41,000 migrants arriving by sea in a recent year, according to Spanish government data. Lampedusa, which Leo will visit on July 4, saw record arrivals during peak migration years under previous administrations, straining local resources and prompting repeated requests for European Union assistance.
The Bottom Line
Leo XIV's visit to honor Cabrini reinforces his stance as a successor to Francis in prioritizing migrants, even as he faces continued friction with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. His decision to spend July 4 at Lampedusa, where Francis made his first trip outside Rome in 2013, signals continuity with his predecessor's priorities.
The visit also included stops in Pavia, where Leo prayed at the tomb of St. Augustine and encouraged Italians to rediscover their Catholic faith amid secularizing trends affecting church attendance across Europe. Analysts will watch whether Leo's public advocacy on migration affects diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Washington.