ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is embarking on a significant day trip on Saturday to northern Italy, where he will pay homage to two pivotal figures in Christian devotion: St. Augustine, who inspired his religious order, and Mother Frances Cabrini, the patron saint of migrants and the first American saint.

This visit marks the midpoint of the pope's grand summer tour of Italy for 2026, during which he has scheduled several Saturday excursions across the country and its islands to connect with his new followers. The pope's initial destination on Saturday is the Lombardy city of Pavia, where he intends to pray at the tomb of St. Augustine, a monumental figure of early Christianity. Augustine's teachings and life deeply influenced the establishment of Leo's Augustinian religious order.

Pope Leo XIV declared himself a "son of St. Augustine" the night he was elected, regularly referencing Augustine's works throughout his first year, thereby underscoring the saint's importance as the guiding inspiration of his pontificate. Born in 354 in present-day Algeria, Augustine spent five years in Milan, where he converted to Christianity. He later became a bishop, authored significant texts such as "Confessions" and "The City of God," and developed a rule for monastic life.

Earlier this year, Pope Leo made a pilgrimage to Annaba, known today as Hippo, where Augustine lived, preached, and ultimately died. Following his visit to St. Augustine's tomb, the pope is scheduled to proceed to Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, the birthplace of Mother Cabrini. Cabrini is especially celebrated in the United States for her dedicated efforts in assisting Italian immigrants during the early 20th century.

After her death in 1917, Cabrini, who was a naturalized American citizen at the time of her passing in Chicago—Leo’s hometown—was beatified and later canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1946, who recognized her as a "heroine of modern times" in a radio address.

In a move that reflects his dedication to the immigrant cause, Leo XIV's alma mater, Villanova University, has recently opened a new campus named after Cabrini, along with the establishment of an Institute on Immigration inspired by her service to migrants. Embracing the Catholic Church's call to "welcome the stranger," similar to the approach of the late Pope Francis, Leo has made migrant ministry a priority since taking office.

Last week, for instance, the pope spent two days in Spain's Canary Islands, a vital entry point for migrants from West Africa, where he advocated for the welcoming and integration of individuals fleeing conflict and hardship. His next day trip is planned for July 4, when he will visit Lampedusa, a Sicilian island known for being a primary arrival point for migrants escaping North Africa to seek refuge in Italy.

Pope Leo XIV's choice to be in Lampedusa on July 4, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day, holds symbolic significance, especially given his past conflicts with the previous Trump administration over immigration issues and mass deportation policies.