Pope Leo backs bishops’ statement on Trump’s immigration policies: ‘Treat people with dignity’
CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY: Pope Leo XIV aka Robert Francis Prevost, voiced strong support for bishops who criticized the Donald Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
He urged citizens to listen to the bishops and treat migrants with compassion and understand their needs.
Asked about the “special message” from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops at their recent assembly, the Pope said, “We need to find ways to treat people with compassion.”
He emphasized that both leaders and citizens have a moral duty to act responsibly. He added that treating people like this is “extremely disrespectful.”
Pope supports bishops, emphasizes dignity and humane treatment for migrants
Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump’s administration for its mass deportations and treatment towards the migrants. He said the raids have caused fear and anxiety in communities and highlighted the lack of care for migrants in detention centers. He raised his voice against Trump's immigrant strategy on Tuesday, November 18.
“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” said the Chicago-born Pope. “If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, there’s a system of justice.”
“But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least, and there’s been some violence unfortunately, I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said,” he added.
“I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them.”
Speaking to reporters as he left the papal country house south of Rome, Leo acknowledged that the US migration system has problems. He didn't just question Trump's immigrant issue; he stressed that no one has suggested open borders. He shared that every country has the right to determine who can enter and under what conditions.
The bishops’ “special message” was rare. It was the first time since 2013 that they issued a single-issue statement during a meeting. An accompanying Instagram video featured individual bishops reading the text to emphasize the message.
Pope and Bishops challenge Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policy
The Trump administration has pushed for mass deportations, stricter enforcement, and a registry for undocumented immigrants. Critics say this approach creates fear in communities and strains detention systems. The policies include ramped-up border security, tougher scrutiny of asylum claims, and increased immigration raids.
In response, Pope Leo XIV and bishops have called for more humane treatment, highlighting the anxiety caused by immigration raids and the lack of spiritual care in detention centres.
