- Pope Francis criticized Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants, calling it a “disgrace.”.
- Trump has pledged to initiate the largest expulsion of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history.
- The Pope has previously criticized Trump’s stance on migration, particularly his promise to build a wall on the Mexican border.
- Despite their differences, the Pope urged Trump to lead a society devoid of “hatred, discrimination or exclusion” and to promote “peace and reconciliation among peoples.”.
Pope Francis, in a recent interview with an Italian TV program, expressed his disapproval of Donald Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants from the United States, labeling it a disgrace if implemented. The Pope, known for his compassionate stance on the issue of migrants, criticized the proposed policy, stating that it would unfairly burden the poor wretches that don’t have anything. He emphasized that such an approach is not the right way to solve problems.
Trump, on the other hand, has pledged to initiate the largest expulsion of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history soon after he assumes office. In response to this, Pope Francis extended cordial greetings to Trump and urged him to lead a society devoid of hatred, discrimination or exclusion and to promote peace and reconciliation among peoples.
The Pope’s comments come in the wake of his previous criticism of Trump during the 2016 presidential election. At that time, he had stated that a person who thinks only about building walls… and not of building bridges, is not Christian. This was in reference to Trump’s promise to construct a wall on the Mexican border to prevent migrants from entering the U.S.
Pope’s Stance on Migration and Trump’s Deportation Plans
The Pope had then said, I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Despite their differences, Trump and Pope Francis met when Trump and his family visited Rome in 2017. However, before the U.S. presidential election in 2024, the Pope declined to endorse either Trump or his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, merely urging people to choose the lesser evil according to their conscience.
In the same interview, Pope Francis also touched upon the issue of migration to Europe, highlighting the cruelty faced by migrants. He asserted that everyone has the right to remain home and the right to emigrate. He also pointed out that some southern European countries that receive the most migrant arrivals are not having any children and need manpower. He suggested that a well-thought-out migrant policy could benefit countries like Italy and Spain.
The Pope’s comments on migration and his criticism of Trump’s deportation plans have been echoed in other news sources. For instance, the Associated Press reported that Pope Francis described Trump’s plans for mass deportations as a disgrace. He expressed his hope that under Trump’s leadership, the American people would prosper and strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination, or exclusion.
Trump’s Other Pressing Issues Amidst Pope’s Criticism
In another news report, Trump was quoted as saying that the mass deportations would begin very early, very quickly. He also mentioned his plans to sign a record-setting number of Executive Orders on his first day in office. However, whether Pope Francis and President Trump will find a way to work together on issues like Ukraine, where their views possibly converge, remains uncertain.
In the midst of these developments, Trump has also been dealing with other pressing issues. He has expressed his intention to delay a ban on TikTok for 90 days after he takes office. He also plans to visit the Los Angeles area to survey the damage caused by devastating wildfires. Furthermore, he has communicated his desire to see the war between Israel and Hamas end, warning that all hell will break out if the two sides do not uphold the recently negotiated ceasefire-hostage agreement.