On June 20, 2026, Pope Leo XIV made a pastoral visit to the town of Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the birthplace of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. During the visit, he prayed in the parish church dedicated to St. Cabrini, venerated a relic of her heart, and reflected on her example of faith, missionary zeal, and service to immigrants and the poor.
“I am here to pay homage to Mother Cabrini,” the Pope told all those gathered in the church for his visit. Pope Leo praised Mother Cabrini as a model for Christians today, especially for her compassion toward migrants and those on the margins of society. He encouraged young people to learn about her life and writings, highlighting her courage, trust in God, and dedication to serving those in need.
Even as a child, Mother Cabrini desired to go to China as a missionary, but, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, he encouraged her instead to serve her Italian countrymen in the United States where they were living in dire conditions. Pope Leo XIV described this decision to change her lifelong plans as “a profound example of reading the ‘signs of the times.’” The pontiff pointed to the fact that Mother Cabrini realize that her missionary dreams were not to be fulfilled in China, but rather, where the need was the greatest.
The Pope noted that migration remains one of the most pressing realities facing nations and the Church, although much more complex than in Cabrini’s time.
“If Mother Frances were living today,” he asked, “what would her missionary soul say? What would the Heart of Christ say to her heart?”
The answer, he continued, lies in the spiritual source that animated every aspect of Cabrini’s life: the love of Christ revealed in His Sacred Heart.
~ excerpts from Vatican News website
The Pope’s visit was an auspices moment for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. General Superior Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva, MSC, and General Councilors Sr. Gilda Mercedes Mendoza Argueta, MSC, Sr. Stella Maris Elena, MSC, and Sr. Patricia Godoy, MSC and many more Missionary Sisters were in attendance in the Basilica of Saint Antonio Abate and St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini.
The visit underscored the Pope’s continuing emphasis on welcoming migrants and caring for the vulnerable, themes that were central to Cabrini’s ministry and remain important in the Church’s mission today.
For Catholics, the visit was a reminder of Mother Cabrini’s enduring legacy as a missionary saint whose faith and charity continue to inspire the Church around the world.
To learn more and to view videos of the Pope’s visit, please click here