Pope Leo says the US is treating immigrants in an “extremely disrespectful” way.
He supported a recent statement from US Catholic bishops that condemned raids and mass deportations under the Trump administration.
The bishops said the actions caused fear and anxiety among long-term immigrant families. Leo told reporters in Castel Gandolfo that the bishops’ message was “very important”. The Pope said people should be treated with dignity, even if they are in the country without permission, and stressed that the US has courts and a justice system to deal with immigration issues.
He said that he did accept that every country can choose who enters, and when, but he said many immigrants have lived in the US for 10, 15, or even 20 years, and yet have been treated in a very disrespectful manner.
He also noted reports of violence during raids and said the bishops had spoken clearly about this.
Leo has become more outspoken about Trump’s immigration policies since his election in May.
In September, he called the treatment of immigrants “inhuman”.
In October, he questioned whether Trump’s approach was compatible with Church teachings.
He argued that someone cannot claim to be “pro-life” while supporting harsh treatment of immigrants.
Leo also released a video message to bishops attending the COP30 summit in Brazil, where he criticized world leaders for failing to act on climate change.
He said creation was “crying out” through floods, droughts, storms, and extreme heat, and called the 2015 Paris Accords the best tool for protecting the planet and said the real failure was a lack of political will.
Sources: CNN, The Guardian, the Vatican.