Pope Leo XIV visited the northern Italian hometown of St Frances Xavier Cabrini 20 June, venerating a relic of her heart and highlighting the enduring relevance of her mission to migrants.
Speaking at the Parish of Sts Anthony Abbot and Frances Cabrini in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the pope said, “I am here to pay tribute to Mother Cabrini, patroness of migrants and the first saint of the United States of America, who was born here in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano in 1850 and died in Chicago, my hometown, in 1917.”
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo prayed at the tomb of St Augustine in Pavia before traveling to Mother Cabrini’s hometown, where thousands gathered to welcome him.
Reflecting on Mother Cabrini’s life, he recalled how Pope Leo XIII redirected her missionary ambitions from China to the United States to serve Italian immigrants.
Calling her witness especially timely, the pope asked: “What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?”
Before returning to Vatican City, he encouraged young people to learn from Mother Cabrini’s example and concluded his visit by telling them, “You young people can change the world. We are waiting for you.”
