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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Nicole Winfield and Andrea Rosa

Pope marks July 4 by praying in Lampedusa for migrants who died seeking freedom and prosperity

Italy Pope Lampedusa - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Pope Leo XIV, who has sparred with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown, spent the Fourth of July on Saturday in the epicenter of Europe’s migration debate to honor the tens of thousands of people who have died trying to reach Europe to find freedom and prosperity.

While the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with rallies, parties and fireworks, history’s first U.S.-born pope traveled to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa to pray at a migrant cemetery and celebrate a solemn Mass for the island's newest arrivals.

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