Pope Leo XIV vs Donald Trump: The leader of the Catholic Church is not a fan of the U.S. immigration policy

As a recently elected president, Donald Trump still has plenty of backers, although statistics show that support has dwindled during his second term, even if it has remained steady in recent months. The Republican leader has also come under public fire for a range of reasons, with the latest criticism coming from Pope Leo XIV.

Pope takes aim at U.S. immigration policy

The Chicago-born Pope drew backlash from prominent conservative Catholics for comments made on September 30, when he directly criticized the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants.

“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,” the leader of the Catholic Church said when asked to give his opinion of U.S. politics.

Follow-up message at Sunday Mass

Five days after his initial critique, the Pope once again addressed immigration during Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, reportedly attended by 10,000 pilgrims from 95 countries.

Leo XIV did not mention any nation by name, although many listeners assumed his remarks were directed at the Trump administration, given how soon they came after his earlier comments.

First U.S.-born Pope calls for compassion

The 70-year-old, the first Pope to be born in the United States, urged the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to “open our arms and hearts” to migrants, “welcoming them as brothers and sisters, and being for them a presence of consolation and hope.”

He added that the global Church is entering “a new missionary age” and has a duty to offer “hospitality and welcome, compassion and solidarity” to those seeking safety after fleeing violence.

“No one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need!” the Pope later posted on his official X account. “Human dignity must always come first!”

A change in tone from past leadership

Leo XIV’s recent criticism of the U.S. government has caught many by surprise, as he has generally adopted a less confrontational approach than his predecessor, Pope Francis, who frequently questioned Trump’s policies.

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