Pope Leo XIV did not mention President Trump by name, but it was clear to many who heard his address to Catholics on Sunday that he was taking a shot at U.S. immigration policies.
Conservative Catholics, hopeful that the new pope, who was elected in May, would not be as far-left as his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, were sorely disappointed as Sunday’s Mass in St. Peter’s Square took on political overtones.
Days after criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Leo urged the thousands gathered for the service – and Catholics around the globe – to open their “arms and hearts” to migrants, not distinguishing between legal and illegal immigration.
“Those boats which hope to catch sight of a safe port, and those eyes filled with anguish and hope seeking to reach the shore, cannot and must not find the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination.” — Pope Leo XIV
On this World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we… pic.twitter.com/tqCiDcBDg1
— U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) October 5, 2025
The first pope to have been born in the United States, Leo said migrants must not be treated with “the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination.”
He urged Catholics to “open our arms and hearts to them, welcoming them as brothers and sisters, and being for them a presence of consolation and hope.”
“On Sunday, the pope said the global Church was experiencing ‘a new missionary age’ in which it was tasked with offering ‘hospitality and welcome, compassion and solidarity’ to migrants fleeing violence or searching for a safe place to live,” Reuters reported.
“In the communities of ancient Christian tradition, such as those of the West, the presence of many brothers and sisters from the world’s South should be welcomed as an opportunity, through an exchange that renews the face of the Church,” he said, speaking from a prepared text.
The Pope’s official account on X has also made his thoughts quite clear on the issue.
No one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need! Human dignity must always come first!
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) October 5, 2025
Last week, the Pope appeared to take a jab at Trump when speaking with reporters.
“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” Leo said.
BREAKING: Pope Leo today: “Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life.” pic.twitter.com/AH0qgcbfrx
— John-Henry Westen (@JhWesten) September 30, 2025
“I would reject that there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back.“There was, however, significant, inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration as they were being trafficked and raped and beaten, in many cases killed over our United States southern border.”
Karoline Leavitt — Donald Trump’s Catholic press secretary — rejects Pope Leo’s claim that migrants are treated inhumanely in the United States. pic.twitter.com/YWjSyeQiy8
— Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) October 1, 2025
The Pope’s latest swipe against US immigration policy earned heated criticism on social media.
Pope Leo, I’m a legal immigrant and I filed my paperwork to legally enter a country.
This is also how The Vatican works, you file paperwork, get a ticket of entry and follow a dress code to be allowed in.
You don’t let random illegal terrorists in the Vatican at random hours…
— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) October 5, 2025
When will @USCCB take in migrants to house on their grounds around CUA and the Basilica? Until then, respectfully, this seems at best to be empty virtue signaling, and at worst to be advising against upholding our duties as stewards and protectors of our families and…
— Dewey Lambdin (@DeweyLambdin) October 6, 2025
Francis 2.0
— Jasper (@Jasper081967) October 6, 2025
Christians are being persecuted & slaughtered from Africa to Asia & Pope Leo is blessing ice, grandstanding about “climate change” & US politics. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/1PRlIxDWBc
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) October 3, 2025
I can be compassionate AND expect respect for borders. Most folks coming accross OUR borders are not refugees, rather folks coming to leech and subvert. There is a huge difference and I would be deluding myself to think otherwise.
— DaveP (@Mercbot7) October 5, 2025
House the criminal invaders in the Vatican. Lead by example, Leo.
— James R. McClure Jr. (@JamesRMcClureJr) October 5, 2025
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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