Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on the world to replace apathy and despair with reconciliation and fraternity, insisting that “there is no justice without compassion.” In a video message delivered to the Gesti dell’Accoglienza (Gestures of Welcome) event on the Italian island of Lampedusa, the Pope praised the islanders’ decades-long tradition of welcoming migrants and urged communities everywhere to cultivate a “culture of reconciliation.”
The gathering in Lampedusa, long a frontline in Europe’s migration story, brought together residents, Church leaders, volunteers, and civic authorities to remember those who perished at sea, share testimonies of hospitality, and reaffirm solidarity with those seeking safety. Greeting the crowd with the local word O’scià! a term that means both “breath” and “spirit” Pope Leo linked it to the biblical image of God’s Spirit, reminding listeners that every act of welcome is animated by divine breath.
The Pope expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Lampedusa and the nearby island of Linosa, recognising not only families and parish communities but also doctors, priests, security officers, and volunteers who have consistently reached out to strangers arriving on their shores.
Central to his message was a moral reminder: “There is no justice without compassion; there is no legitimacy without listening to the suffering of others.” The pontiff lamented the countless migrants who lost their lives in the Mediterranean and are buried in Lampedusa, calling them “seeds from which a new world is meant to sprout.” At the same time, he acknowledged survivors who built new lives and, through resilience, became “workers for justice and peace because goodness is contagious.”
Drawing a thread from his predecessor, Pope Francis who famously denounced the “globalisation of indifference” during his 2013 visit to Lampedusa Pope Leo XIV warned of a new danger: the “globalisation of impotence.” He cautioned that, while societies today are more aware of injustice and human suffering, many feel paralyzed, unable to act, resigned to silence and sorrow.
“History is not written only by the powerful,” the Pope affirmed, “but is saved by the humble, the just, and the martyrs, in whom goodness shines and authentic humanity is renewed.”
Rejecting narratives of division, Pope Leo appealed for a shift toward reconciliation, stressing: “There are no enemies; there are only brothers and sisters. We need gestures of reconciliation and policies of reconciliation.” His message challenged communities and governments to move beyond prejudice, heal wounds, and build bridges across divides.
Concluding his address, the Pope encouraged perseverance in nurturing “islands of peace” that can grow into “pillars of bridges, allowing peace to reach all peoples and all creatures.” Invoking the intercession of Mary, Star of the Sea a title especially dear to seafarers and migrants he imparted his blessing with the local greeting O’scià!
With his words, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed Lampedusa’s role as both a place of sorrow and hope, urging the world to see in its story a roadmap toward fraternity, justice, and peace.