Pope Francis marked July 4 with a message to Americans urging greater compassion toward migrants, according to reports.

The appeal, framed around the themes of the day, called on the United States to welcome and protect people who are arriving seeking safety and a better life. The pope’s remarks emphasized the need for humane treatment and generosity, portraying migration as something the country should respond to with empathy rather than hostility.

Reports described the message as part of the Vatican’s broader engagement with migration-related concerns, delivered as the US celebrated its national holiday.