A recent letter from Pope Francis to the U.S. bishops has sparked a significant debate over the application of Catholic teaching on love and compassion, particularly as it pertains to immigration. The controversy centers around Vice President JD Vance’s use of the term “ordo amoris,” or “rightly-ordered love,” in defending President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which many have criticized for their stance on mass deportations. In the letter, Pope Francis expressed concern over the current treatment of migrants and offered a critique of the way the concept of love is being applied in the political sphere.
Vance, a Catholic, defended the Trump administration’s immigration policies in a late January interview by invoking the “ordo amoris.” He described it as an “old school… Christian concept,” explaining that it teaches one’s “compassion belongs first” to family and fellow citizens, and “then after that” to the rest of the world. He continued, saying, “you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.”
While Vance’s interpretation might resonate with some, Pope Francis offered a different perspective in his letter to the U.S. bishops. Writing on February 10, the Holy Father explained that an “authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized.” He clarified that this does not prevent the development of policies regulating migration but should be done in a way that upholds the dignity of every individual. The Pope emphasized that Christian love is not “a concentric expansion of interests,” where affection grows outward in a limited, self-interested circle, but rather, it is a universal love that must include everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Pope Francis’ critique of Vance’s interpretation of the “ordo amoris” was rooted in the belief that love should not be understood as a hierarchical system that prioritizes certain groups over others. As the Pope wrote, “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups.” He further explained, “The human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings! The human person is a subject with dignity who, through the constitutive relationship with all, especially with the poorest, can gradually mature in his identity and vocation.”
The Pope also pointed to the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37), as the true model of the “ordo amoris” that Catholics must seek to embody. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘good Samaritan,’” the Pope said. This story, which portrays a Samaritan helping a wounded man, teaches the lesson of unconditional compassion and care for all, regardless of nationality, background, or status.
In his letter, Pope Francis also addressed the issue of deportation, which is central to the immigration debate in the United States. He reminded the bishops that deporting people, many of whom have fled their home countries due to “extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution, or serious deterioration of the environment,” damages the dignity of individuals and families. “I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of goodwill, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters,” he wrote. He called for solidarity, urging Catholics to “build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy.”
The principle of “ordo amoris” has long been a part of Catholic thought, with roots in the writings of St. Augustine. According to Dominican Father Pius Pietrzyk, “ordo amoris is a well-established principle considered evident through both revelation and reason.” St. Augustine first introduced the term, explaining that a just and holy person is one who rightly directs his or her affections, ensuring love is given to the proper persons in the correct measure. St. Thomas Aquinas later expanded on this concept in his theological works, including the Summa Theologica, arguing that “there must be a specific ‘order in things loved out of charity.’” Aquinas taught that God should be loved above all else, followed by oneself and one’s neighbors, with particular affection for those closest, such as family.
However, Aquinas also acknowledged that love is not always so clear-cut. While he noted that certain relationships carry more immediate obligations, he also argued that “in certain cases one ought, for instance, to succor a stranger, in extreme necessity, rather than one’s own father, if he is not in such urgent need.” This flexibility in Aquinas’ approach to “ordo amoris” suggests that the principle must be applied with consideration of the specific needs of the time, place, and individuals involved.
The debate surrounding Vance’s use of “ordo amoris” has highlighted different views within the Catholic community on how to balance personal obligations with broader social responsibilities. Father Raymond de Souza, writing for the National Catholic Register, suggested that the conflict between Pope Francis and Vance is likely more about language than theology. He noted, “It is difficult to hear in the Trump-Vance rhetoric love for the immigrant, whether properly ordered or not.” De Souza argued that Pope Francis’ position is not about advocating for open borders but rather about ensuring the dignity of all individuals, especially immigrants, is upheld. “Francis insists that even those refused entry, or returned, are to be treated with dignity and fit within the ordo amoris,” he wrote.
The Pope’s call to Catholics is clear: true Christian love transcends borders and must extend to all people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized. As he urged the faithful, “With charity and clarity we are all called to live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy and to learn to give our lives as Jesus Christ gave his for the salvation of all.”
