Pope Leo XIV prays at migrant graves, renames Lampedusa pier after Francis in message against remigration

A pilgrimage to the cemetery

Pope Leo XIV began his visit to Lampedusa at the cemetery of Cala Pisana, where he laid flowers and prayed at the graves of migrants who died attempting to cross the Mediterranean. The graves are marked by crosses carved from the wood of shipwrecked boats. The stop was a silent tribute to those who perished at sea.

Symbolic gestures at the Gate of Europe

From the cemetery, the Pope traveled to the Porta d'Europa, a ceramic and iron monument that symbolizes the entry of migrants into Europe. He greeted a migrant family and then, in a highly symbolic act, crossed the gate, placing his hand on its right side and gazing out at the sea where a military ship was visible. He later descended alone to the rocky shore, his zucchetto blown off by the wind, and stood for a long time looking at the water, an implicit invitation to see the Mediterranean as an opportunity rather than a grave.

Renaming the pier after Francis

At the Molo Favarolo, the main arrival point for migrants on the island, Pope Leo unveiled and blessed a plaque renaming the pier Molo Papa Francesco. The 150-meter landing stage has for years been the first European soil for survivors of the dangerous sea crossing. The renaming honors the late Pope Francis, who visited Lampedusa in 2013 and condemned the "globalization of indifference."

A message against remigration

Archbishop Alessandro Damiano of Agrigento said the visit sends "a clear message" against remigration and that "life at sea must always be saved." He noted that the Pope's journey follows recent stops in the Canary Islands and a memorial to Mother Cabrini, framing it as a consistent defense of migrant dignity. The visit comes as the European Union tightens its migration policies.

Life at sea must always be saved.

Meeting survivors and celebrating Mass

After the pier ceremony, the Pope met a group of 15 migrants brought from the island's Red Cross hotspot, shaking hands with each one. He then rode through the streets of Lampedusa in the popemobile, blessing children, before celebrating Mass at the local stadium, where thousands had gathered.