Migrants, subway tunnels and the pope: Eric Adams looks to Rome for inspiration

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday lauded Pope Francis’ calls for migrants to be treated humanely as he kicked off a visit to Italy that will culminate in an audience with the pontiff.

“His voice on these topics will cause those who would probably traditionally ignore the topic to sit up and take note,” Adams said in a news conference from Rome, adding that the pope urges people to “just look at your fellow human being as your fellow brother or sister.”

He described the pope ahead of their meeting as a “credible messenger” in parts of the world struggling with influxes of newcomers, including New York City, where 195,000 migrants have come in the past two years.

The pope has challenged anti-immigration postures in Europe and penned a letter in March to migrants in Panama calling them “the face of Christ.”

The mayor said Friday he also took away lessons from Roman Mayor Roberto Gualtieri on how the Italian capital is supporting migrants.

“What really jumped off at me and my conversation with the mayor is how quick they are able to work,” Adams said. “One of the requirements is that you learn basic the language of the country, of basic Italian, and you are allowed to work within a short period of time, anywhere from two months. You are able to really be a part of the society.”

Day one of Adams’ Roman holiday has been far from restful as he toured a subway tunnel under construction near the Colosseum and a slaughterhouse that was converted into an arthouse and sat with a roundtable of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The New York City Democrat is visiting Rome for the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, and his travel bill is footed by the pope’s Fondazione Fratelli Tutti, according to City Hall.

While Adams identifies as Christian and not Catholic, he called the planned meeting “a very important moment in my overall spiritual outlook.”

At home in New York City, Adams has been appealing to the Biden administration to further expand work authorization to help some of the tens of thousands of migrants living in New York City. Abroad in Rome, he said his multi-day trip will include tours of migrant housing.

“I would love to see how they are housing them, what services they are provided,” Adams said.