Boldly capturing the emotional core of the current immigration crisis, Pope Leo XIV has urged U.S. Catholic bishops to actively address the harsh realities faced by migrant families amid the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement. This plea came after the Pope was personally shown heartfelt letters from immigrants living in constant fear of detention and deportation, highlighting the deep human toll behind the policy headlines.
El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, who is at the forefront of confronting the immigration crackdown, traveled to Rome to meet with Pope Leo XIV. During their meeting, Seitz presented the Pope with a collection of poignant letters from immigrants who feel "terrorized" by the increasing likelihood that they or their loved ones will be forcibly removed from the U.S. Accompanying these letters was a powerful video illustrating the hardships migrants endure under the intensifying crackdown.
Following the meeting, Bishop Seitz shared with The Associated Press that Pope Leo expressed his support for both the vulnerable immigrant communities and the Catholic leaders striving to assist them. The Pope thanked them for their dedication and encouraged the U.S. bishops’ conference to speak out more robustly on this pressing issue.
Pope Leo XIV, originally from Chicago and also a Peruvian citizen, has maintained a relatively quiet stance on U.S. politics since his election, but recently he has highlighted significant contradictions in public discourse concerning abortion, the death penalty, and immigration policies. He notably critiqued those who claim to be "pro-life" while supporting the death penalty or the harsh treatment of immigrants, questioning the consistency of such positions.
U.S. Catholic leaders have openly criticized the Trump administration's immigration tactics, which have resulted in family separations, widespread fear, and disruptions in the lives of migrant communities served by American churches and schools. The administration, meanwhile, defends these measures as necessary to protect public safety and national security.
Bishop Seitz emphasized that the Church’s mission is to teach faith rather than engage in politics, underscoring the Gospel’s call to honor the dignity of every human being, care for the poor, and welcome strangers. He described the paralyzing fear immigrants live with daily, noting how it impacts their ability to live normal lives.
The materials Bishop Seitz brought to Pope Leo included stories from legal migrants who are nevertheless terrified due to the aggressive actions of federal agencies. In Chicago, for example, immigration enforcement has taken dramatic steps such as deploying helicopters to raid apartment buildings at night, using chemical agents near schools, and handcuffing a city official in a hospital—a stark illustration of the escalating tension.
One letter from Maria, a Guatemalan asylum seeker who has lived in San Francisco for 25 years, spoke directly to the Pope, urging him to intervene and encourage President Trump to reconsider his immigration policies. She shared the painful irony that, despite her own legal status, the fear for her undocumented relatives is overwhelming and constant.
Before his passing, Pope Francis vocally condemned plans for mass deportations, warning that removing people solely based on their immigration status strips them of their inherent human dignity. Pope Leo continues this legacy, recently celebrating a special Holy Year Mass dedicated to migrants, denouncing society’s "cold indifference" and the "stigma of discrimination" toward those fleeing violence and hardship.
Though he chose not to comment directly on Chicago’s crackdown this week, Pope Leo has a history of challenging harsh immigration policies, having expressed criticism on social media prior to his papacy.
During the Vatican meeting, despite running late, Pope Leo assured Bishop Seitz and a delegation—including members from the Hope Border Institute, a migrant advocacy group connected to the El Paso diocese—that he will stand with them. Seitz described this exchange as a beautiful moment of solidarity.
Speculation swirls around the possibility of Pope Leo visiting the United States next year, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. President Trump has extended an invitation. This potential visit calls to mind Pope Francis’s memorable 2016 Mass on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border, broadcast live to a stadium in El Paso—a powerful symbol of solidarity across borders.
When asked about the Pope potentially visiting the U.S. side of the border, Bishop Seitz responded cautiously but positively, affirming that he would be warmly welcomed.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Can the Church maintain its spiritual mission without being dragged into the political battles surrounding immigration? Should the Pope’s voice weigh more heavily in U.S. politics, or does this risk alienating some faithful?
What do you think? Should religious leaders take a stronger public stance on immigration policy, or focus solely on pastoral care? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.
