The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomes the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Lampedusa, a powerful reaffirmation that migrants and refugees must remain at the centre of global efforts to save lives and uphold our shared humanity.
"Lampedusa has become a symbol of both unimaginable loss and extraordinary compassion," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. "Pope Leo XIV's visit reminds us that behind every migration statistic is a human life. We have a shared responsibility to save lives, protect human dignity and ensure that no one has to risk their life in search of safety or opportunity."
The visit comes as the Central Mediterranean remains one of the world's deadliest migration routes. According to IOM's Missing Migrants Project , more than 26,000 migrants have died or gone missing along this route since 2014. In 2026 alone, at least 865 people have already been reported dead or missing, despite a significant decline in arrivals to Italy.
Since 2006, IOM has been present in Lampedusa, working alongside Italian authorities and partners to support people arriving by sea from the moment they are rescued, through the first stages of arrival and reception, during their stay at the hotspot, and throughout their transfer from the island.
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV stopped at Molo Favaloro, the main landing point for migrants arriving in Italy by sea, where he blessed a plaque dedicating the site to Pope Francis, whose 2013 visit to Lampedusa drew the world's attention to the suffering of migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean and warned against the "globalization of indifference."
More than a decade later, that message remains as urgent as ever. While migration routes and patterns continue to evolve, the humanitarian imperative remains unchanged: lives must be protected, vulnerable people must be assisted, and human dignity must remain at the centre of all responses.
The visit also reflects Pope Leo XIV's own calls to uphold the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. Earlier this year, the Holy Father reaffirmed that every migrant is a person whose inalienable rights must be respected and stressed that efforts to combat criminality and human trafficking should never come at the expense of the dignity of migrants and refugees.
Echoing this call, IOM continues to advocate for international cooperation, effective action against migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, greater investment in safe, regular and orderly migration pathways, and a steadfast commitment to protection.
As Pope Leo XIV visits Lampedusa, IOM reiterates its commitment to supporting migrants, assisting governments and working with partners to build migration systems that save lives, protect human dignity and are safe, orderly and humane.
