SANT'ANGELO LODIGIANO, Italy — Pope Leo XIV honored Mother Frances Cabrini, the first American saint, on Saturday, highlighting her life and work as a model for contemporary Christian efforts to assist migrants. The pontiff visited Cabrini’s birthplace, a small town near Milan, during a day trip to northern Italy as part of his ongoing summer tour across the country.

During the visit, Leo prayed at Cabrini’s tomb inside a basilica dedicated to her and led an evening prayer service. Known as the patron saint of migrants, Cabrini was widely recognized in the United States for her dedication to Italian immigrants around the early 20th century. Beyond her work in the U.S., she established schools, hospitals, and orphanages worldwide for vulnerable populations. Cabrini, who died in 1917 in Chicago as a naturalized U.S. citizen, was beatified and canonized in 1946, becoming the first American saint.

In his remarks, Leo emphasized Cabrini’s missionary spirit as particularly relevant in addressing today’s migrant crises. He urged especially young people to study her life and writings, pointing to her faith-driven commitment to aiding those who left their homes in search of better futures. “What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?” the pope asked, drawing a parallel to Pope Francis’ own focus on migration issues. Leo also framed his appeal within the legacy of Francis, the first pope of Italian immigrant descent, who has consistently prioritized support for migrants throughout his papacy.

The visit carried symbolic weight amid Leo’s known tensions with the former Trump administration over deportation and immigration policies. Just last week, the pope spent two days in Spain’s Canary Islands—a gateway for West African migrants—calling for welcoming and integrating those fleeing hardship and conflict. He is scheduled to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 4, a major entry point for migrants from North Africa and the site of Francis’ inaugural pastoral visit outside Rome in 2013.

Leo’s trip to northern Italy began in Pavia, where he prayed at the tomb of St. Augustine, the early Christian theologian whose teachings inspired the pope’s religious order. There, Leo addressed the decline of religious practice in Italy, highlighting a need to revitalize Catholic faith amid widespread secularization. Noting fewer church weddings and declining Mass attendance, he called on Italians to rediscover their spiritual heritage and recommit to the Gospel message.

Augustine, born in 354 in present-day Algeria and converted to Christianity in the Milan area, wrote foundational works such as *Confessions* and *The City of God*. Leo portrayed Augustine as a source of inspiration for contemporary believers navigating a changing cultural landscape.