Pope Leo XIV has paid homage to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, hailing her as a profound model of compassion, service, and dedication to migrants.
During a visit to Cabrini’s birthplace in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano in northern Italy on Saturday, the pope prayed at her tomb and urged young people to emulate her commitment to helping those in need.
Born in Italy in 1850, Mother Cabrini relocated to the United States to assist Italian immigrants, going on to found schools, hospitals, orphanages, and charitable institutions across multiple countries. She became a US citizen in 1909 and was canonised in 1946, making her America’s first saint. In 1950, she was designated the patron saint of migrants.
Shared Ties to Chicago
The tribute carries particular resonance given the parallel histories of both figures: Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pontiff, while Cabrini holds the distinction of being the first American saint. Both also share deep connections to Chicago — the city where Cabrini spent her final years, and where Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, was raised.
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A Continuing Pontifical Theme
The pope’s gesture is widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of the Catholic Church’s ongoing commitment to migrants and vulnerable communities, reinforcing what has emerged as a defining theme of his pontificate.