ROME — Pope Francis expressed strong disapproval of Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation of immigrants, labeling the plans a “disgrace.” This statement comes nearly ten years after he previously described Trump as “not Christian” due to his desire to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Pope shared his thoughts during a recent appearance on an evening talk show, which was followed by an official congratulatory telegram to Trump on the day of his inauguration. In his telegram, Francis articulated his hopes that the United States would remain true to its founding principles of being a “land of opportunity and welcome for all.”
“It is my hope that under your leadership, the American people will prosper and will always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination, or exclusion,” he added.
During the talk show, Che Tempo Che Fa, Francis addressed the deportation plans promised by Trump’s administration. He remarked, “If true, this will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the problem. This won’t do! This is not the way to solve things. That’s not how things are resolved.”
Trump, who was set to be inaugurated on the following day, made mass deportations a hallmark of his campaign and pledged extensive first-day executive orders to alter immigration policies. When Francis was previously questioned about Trump’s wall proposal in the 2016 campaign, he famously declared that anyone who seeks to build a wall to exclude migrants is “not Christian.”
A number of U.S. bishops have openly opposed Trump’s plan for mass deportations. Cardinal Robert McElroy, the new archbishop of Washington, D.C., stated that such approaches are “incompatible with Catholic doctrine,” highlighting the Biblical mandate to “welcome the stranger.”
Cardinal Blasé Cupich of Chicago, who is closely aligned with Francis, expressed concern over reports of mass deportations affecting the Chicago area, calling it “profoundly disturbing” and saying it “wounds us deeply.” In a statement made from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Cupich stressed that while governments must safeguard borders and communities, they also have an obligation to uphold the rights and human dignity of all individuals.
Pope Francis, who has a background as the son of Italian immigrants in Argentina, has consistently advocated for the rights and treatment of migrants, urging governments to welcome, protect, and integrate them within available resources. He has maintained that the dignity and rights of migrants should take precedence over any national security considerations.
