Pope Leo XIV exalts first American saint Cabrini as a model for Christians for her care of migrants

By — Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Nicole Winfield, Associated Press By — Brian Hendrie, Associated Press Brian Hendrie, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pope-leo-xiv-exalts-first-american-saint-cabrini-as-a-model-for-christians-for-her-care-of-migrants Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pope Leo XIV exalts first American saint Cabrini as a model for Christians for her care of migrants World Jun 20, 2026 3:10 PM EDT SANT'ANGELO LODIGIANO, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday exalted the first American saint, Mother Frances Cabrini, as a model for Christians today to care for migrants in need, as he visited her birthplace during a day trip to northern Italy. Leo, who has clashed with the Trump administration over its migrant crackdown, urged young people in particular to learn about Cabrini's life and service, once again confirming history's first U.S. pope as the heir to Pope Francis in prioritizing the plight of migrants. READ MORE: Pope Leo XIV warns against 'fanning the flames of polarization' on first papal visit to Spain in 15 years Leo prayed before Cabrini's tomb in a basilica named for her in her birthplace in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, near Milan, and presided over an evening prayer service. The visit to northern Italy is part of Leo's summertime grand tour of Italy to visit key cities to get to know his flock. Cabrini, the patron saint of migrants, is well known to many Americans for her work caring for Italian immigrants in the United States at the turn of the last century. Her work went beyond the U.S., however, as she crisscrossed the globe building schools, hospitals and orphanages for those who had nothing. After she died in 1917, as a naturalized U.S. citizen in Leo's native Chicago, Cabrini was beatified and then canonized in 1946 as the first American saint. Leo asks what Francis would do In praising Cabrini on Saturday, Leo said she was inspired by her faith to help those migrants who had left everything behind to try to find a better life. "What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?" he said. READ MORE: Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery "Let us ask ourselves: if Mother Francesca were alive today, what would her missionary spirit tell her?" Leo said. "And what would a pope like Francis — who, as the son of Italian immigrants, made service to migrants one of the key priorities of his pontificate — ask of her?" "I therefore take this opportunity to make an appeal, especially to young people: get to know St. Frances Cabrini!" Leo said, urging them to read her writings, travel journals and notes from retreats. A July 4 with migrants Leo has embraced the Catholic Church's Gospel-mandated call to "welcome the stranger" in his ministry to migrants. Last week, Leo spent two days in Spain's Canary Islands, a major destination for migrants leav