Pope Francis criticizes Trump's large-scale deportation initiatives
In an open letter to American Catholic bishops this week, Pope Francis warns that the crackdown “will end badly.”
TroibNews 
Pope Francis has expressed strong disapproval of President Donald Trump’s extensive deportation efforts in a letter directed to American Catholic bishops this week, cautioning that Trump's campaign promise “will end badly.”
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Pope Francis stated, “The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.” He further remarked, “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”
The Pope has consistently criticized Trump’s immigration policies since his first term. Before Trump's inauguration, he referred to the president's intention to deport millions of undocumented immigrants as a “disgrace.” In 2016, Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, condemned Trump’s proposition to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, asserting that Trump was “not Christian.” However, their relationship seemed to improve during Trump’s visit to the Vatican in 2017, when Trump described the Pope as “fantastic.”
As Trump commenced his second term, tensions resurfaced. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, accused the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of resettling undocumented immigrants in exchange for federal funds. Additionally, Trump indicated potential strains with the Vatican by appointing Brian Burch, a critic of Pope Francis and leader of Catholic Vote, as ambassador to the Holy See in December.
In his letter, Pope Francis also encouraged American bishops to refrain from endorsing Trump’s negative views regarding undocumented immigrants and instead, to advocate for their rights and protections. “I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters,” he emphasized.
In response, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, criticized Pope Francis' comments during an interview on Newsmax, asserting, "Stick to the Catholic Church. Leave border enforcement to us.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Pope Francis stated, “The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.” He further remarked, “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”
The Pope has consistently criticized Trump’s immigration policies since his first term. Before Trump's inauguration, he referred to the president's intention to deport millions of undocumented immigrants as a “disgrace.” In 2016, Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, condemned Trump’s proposition to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, asserting that Trump was “not Christian.” However, their relationship seemed to improve during Trump’s visit to the Vatican in 2017, when Trump described the Pope as “fantastic.”
As Trump commenced his second term, tensions resurfaced. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, accused the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of resettling undocumented immigrants in exchange for federal funds. Additionally, Trump indicated potential strains with the Vatican by appointing Brian Burch, a critic of Pope Francis and leader of Catholic Vote, as ambassador to the Holy See in December.
In his letter, Pope Francis also encouraged American bishops to refrain from endorsing Trump’s negative views regarding undocumented immigrants and instead, to advocate for their rights and protections. “I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters,” he emphasized.
In response, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, criticized Pope Francis' comments during an interview on Newsmax, asserting, "Stick to the Catholic Church. Leave border enforcement to us.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
