Lampedusa Mayor: Pope's Visit Was a Call for Humanity

Lampedusa Mayor Filippo Mannino described Pope Francis's recent visit to the island as a profound appeal to global leaders, urging them to infuse their governance with greater humanity. "A call? To those who govern Europe, to the powerful of the world. So that the words and actions of those who administer are filled with heart. So that they are more human," Mannino stated.

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A call? To those who govern Europe, to the powerful of the world. So that the words and actions of those who administer are filled with heart. So that they are more human.

Mannino, elected in 2022, addressed concerns about the island's appearance during the papal visit, emphasizing the community's long-standing role in welcoming and assisting migrants. He contrasted the current situation with past experiences, recalling an incident four years prior when he and the prefect navigated crowded conditions with thousands of migrants. "Today it is no longer like this, but no one speaks of good management. I worked hard to make this change happen, with the Red Cross. There used to be 3 to 4 thousand migrants staying for weeks, now never more than a hundred," he explained.

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Today it is no longer like this, but no one speaks of good management. I worked hard to make this change happen, with the Red Cross. There used to be 3 to 4 thousand migrants staying for weeks, now never more than a hundred.

The mayor also recounted a deeply personal experience that led to the Pope's visit. He described receiving a call late at night about a landing where 23 people, including three children, had died. "I no longer had space in the cemetery. No one responded. Many talk about welcoming, but it is difficult to practice it. I therefore wrote to the Pope: 'Do not forget us...'". Mannino expressed his surprise and emotion that Pope Francis personally acknowledged his letter upon arrival, whispering, "I carry you in my prayers, I do not forget you..."

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I no longer had space in the cemetery. No one responded. Many talk about welcoming, but it is difficult to practice it. I therefore wrote to the Pope: 'Do not forget us...'.

Mannino found the most beautiful word spoken during the trip to be "O scià," an expression of deep connection, meaning "my breath" or "my spirit." He noted that Claudio Baglioni, who had invoked the same phrase 15 years prior when the island felt overlooked, was present at the event, sharing in the island's ongoing resilience and spirit.

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I carry you in my prayers, I do not forget you...