Pope Leo XIV has called for “deep reflection” on how migrants are treated in the United States, urging Americans to remember that “every Christian will ultimately be judged on how they welcomed the foreigner,” according to a report from the BBC.
Speaking outside his papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, the Chicago-born pontiff addressed U.S. immigration policies that have led to widespread deportations under President Donald Trump’s administration. “There are people who have lived in the U.S. for years and years never causing problems, who have been deeply affected,” the Pope said, referring to the impact of mass deportations and detention efforts.
According to Catholic historian Austen Ivereigh, Pope Leo’s words were “very strong” and “obviously talking about the ICE round-ups,” reflecting the Holy Father’s growing willingness to speak directly to U.S. audiences on moral and social issues.
A Pastoral Message Rooted in Experience
Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Pope Leo spent much of his priesthood as a missionary bishop in Peru. That background, according to Professor Anna Rowlands of Durham University, “has shaped his approach.” She told the BBC that Leo “has lived in countries affected by these policies, and been welcomed himself as a migrant. He was in effect a migrant bishop.”
In his first major papal document last month, Pope Leo reaffirmed that poverty, migration, and the protection of families would remain “at the heart” of his papacy. Professor Rowlands described his message as “an entirely orthodox response” consistent with over a century of Catholic social teaching—defending both the dignity of migrants and the sanctity of the family.
A Call for Mercy and Pastoral Care
The Pope also spoke about the spiritual care of migrants detained in U.S. immigration centers, after reports that Catholics in custody near Chicago had been barred from receiving Communion. “I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people,” he said, emphasizing the Church’s duty to serve those most in need.
Warning Against Escalation in Venezuela
Pope Leo’s appeal extended beyond U.S. borders, warning that the Trump administration’s military operations against Venezuelan vessels risked “increasing tension rather than working to defend the peace,” according to the BBC. “I think that with violence we won’t win,” he said in Italian, calling for renewed dialogue and calm throughout the region.
A Distinctive Yet Continuous Papacy
Though the first U.S.-born pope, Leo XIV has shown that his American roots have not translated into political alignment. “Now they’re waking up to the fact that Leo isn’t going to change church teaching for their sake,” Ivereigh said. “He’s very different from Francis in his style, but it’s the same teaching and priorities. He’s very much a continuation.”
Six months into his papacy, Pope Leo’s remarks signal a growing confidence in addressing global and national moral issues with directness, and a reminder that mercy, justice, and human dignity remain the measure by which nations and believers alike will be judged.
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