Vatican City: As Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 4, a leading Augustinian priest has called for a major change in the way the world responds to migrants and refugees. Instead of treating migration only as an emergency, he says governments, universities, communities, and faith groups must work together to address its root causes while helping newcomers rebuild their lives with dignity.
In a reflection ahead of the papal visit, Fr. John Lydon, an Augustinian priest and director of the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at Villanova University in the United States, said Pope Leo has made the migrant crisis one of the defining concerns of his young papacy. According to him, the Pope's recent visits to the Canary Islands, Lampedusa, and the birthplace of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini show that caring for migrants and refugees is at the heart of his vision for the Catholic Church.
Fr. Lydon said migration has become one of the most debated political issues in Europe and North America, but Pope Leo is urging people to move beyond narrow political arguments and instead see migrants through the eyes of faith and human compassion.
During his visit to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Pope Leo warned that the suffering of migrants does not end when they reach safety. He spoke about what he described as the "silent shipwreck" that happens after arrival, when migrants are left alone without work, security, community support, or a sense of belonging. Such isolation, he said, leaves many vulnerable to exploitation and despair.
Fr. Lydon said these words challenge society to move beyond temporary solutions. While emergency rescue operations remain important, he stressed that lasting change requires addressing the reasons why people are forced to leave their homes in the first place. Poverty, violence, conflict, climate change, and environmental disasters continue to drive millions from their countries, making migration a global issue that cannot be solved through short term measures alone.
He also reflected on the teachings of both Pope Francis and Pope Leo. While Pope Francis often warned against what he called the "globalization of indifference," Pope Leo has spoken about a "globalization of powerlessness." Fr. Lydon said the two ideas describe different aspects of the same crisis, where fear, isolation, and lack of solidarity prevent societies from responding with justice and compassion.
The priest noted that Pope Leo has repeatedly reminded Christians that every life lost during dangerous migration journeys represents a failure for the entire human family. He said people cannot remain indifferent to the growing number of deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and along other migration routes around the world.
Fr. Lydon also highlighted the Pope's new encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, which presents the treatment of migrants and refugees as a measure of a society's commitment to justice. According to the Pope, how nations welcome those forced to flee reveals whether their decisions are guided by fear or by a spirit of fraternity and shared humanity.
The encyclical also encourages people from different cultures and backgrounds to work together through dialogue and mutual respect. Pope Leo says diversity should not be viewed as a threat but as an opportunity to build stronger and more united communities based on justice and solidarity.
Inspired by the Pope's message, Fr. Lydon and other organizers gathered at the Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife for a symposium titled Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home. The meeting brought together academics, representatives of non governmental organizations, migrants, and community leaders to develop practical action plans focused on education, research, advocacy, and direct service.
Rather than simply discussing the issue, participants worked together to identify ways of improving migrant integration and creating stronger partnerships between universities, civil society, and local communities. Fr. Lydon said universities have a special responsibility to become what Pope Leo has described as a "constellation of hope" by using research and education to support real social change.
One of the most powerful moments of the gathering came through the testimony of Ousman Umar from Ghana. Umar described how he left home at the age of 12 and spent five years travelling through eight countries, crossing deserts and the sea while witnessing many fellow migrants die during the journey. Today, after earning an MBA, he leads an organization that provides educational and economic opportunities in his home village, helping young people build a future without risking dangerous migration.
Other refugees also shared stories of hardship, survival, and eventual integration into society, reminding participants that behind every migration statistic is a human life marked by courage, hope, and resilience.
Fr. Lydon concluded that the challenge extends far beyond the Canary Islands or Lampedusa. Human dignity is at risk wherever people are forced to flee their homes, and meaningful solutions will require international cooperation rather than isolated efforts. He said the Pope's message calls on the global community to overcome prejudice, build bridges of understanding, and create societies where migrants are welcomed not as strangers but as people whose talents and experiences can enrich the communities that receive them.
With Pope Leo's visit to Lampedusa expected to focus once again on the human cost of migration, Church leaders hope his message will inspire governments and citizens alike to replace fear with compassion and work together toward a more just and inclusive future.