Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has endorsed the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ condemnation of the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps, highlighting the need to treat migrants with dignity and humanity. During a recent address, the pope reaffirmed the bishops’ stance against the ‘vilification’ of immigrants and the dehumanizing conditions in detention centers. The bishops have raised concerns about the fear and anxiety generated by mass deportations, urging the administration to prioritize human dignity and legal processes over forceful measures.
The bishops’ statement, adopted during their general assembly last week in Baltimore, criticized President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda and the ‘vilification’ of migrants, expressing concern over the fear and anxiety immigration raids stoke in communities. The statement also highlighted the lack of pastoral care for migrants in detention centers and opposed the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. ‘We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,’ the bishops’ statement reads. ‘We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care,’ it adds.
The pope has previously urged local bishops to speak out on social justice concerns, and Catholic leaders have consistently criticized Trump’s mass deportation plan. Fear of immigration raids has led to a noticeable decline in Mass attendance at some parishes. The situation has also drawn attention to the broader implications of immigration policies, with the pope emphasizing the importance of treating people with dignity, even if they are in the United States illegally. ‘There are courts, there’s a system of justice,’ Leo told reporters, advocating for the resolution of immigration matters through legal channels rather than punitive actions.
In a related development, the federal government recently reversed a Biden administration directive that had prohibited immigration agents from carrying out raids at sensitive areas such as churches, schools, and hospitals. This change has reignited debates about the balance between national security and the protection of vulnerable communities. Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the complexities of the U.S. migration system but clarified that no one has advocated for open borders. ‘Every country may choose who can enter and the methods to do so,’ he noted, emphasizing the importance of respecting the rights of those living in the country for extended periods.
Leo’s comments reflect a broader concern within the Catholic Church about the ethical and humanitarian aspects of immigration policy. His endorsement of the bishops’ message underscores the Church’s influence in shaping public discourse on social justice issues. The bishops’ ‘special message’ marked their first single-issue statement since 2013, demonstrating the growing significance of immigration as a central moral and political issue in the United States.