A powerful plea for compassion and justice has reached the highest office of the Catholic Church, and it's a call to action that could shape the future of immigration policy in the United States.
Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago-born Peruvian citizen, has been urged by a bishop on the front lines of the immigration crisis to speak out against the Trump administration's aggressive tactics. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, met with Pope Leo and presented him with a compelling case: a packet of letters from immigrant families living in fear of deportation, and a video detailing their plight.
"They're terrorized," Seitz emphasized. "This fear has long-term consequences for people and their lives."
The letters and video paint a stark picture of the daily terror faced by even legal migrants. U.S. citizens, immigrants with legal status, and children have all been subjected to brazen and aggressive encounters with federal agents. In Chicago, Leo's hometown, immigration agents have employed extreme methods, including helicopter raids on apartment complexes, the use of chemical agents near a public school, and the handcuffing of a city official at a hospital.
Maria, a Guatemalan immigrant who has lived in San Francisco for a quarter-century and qualified for asylum, wrote in one of the letters: "The pope needs to talk to Trump and ask him to consider the impact of his actions on immigrants. The pope needs to plead with Trump, and Trump needs to listen. He must change his approach."
Pope Leo, who has been relatively quiet on U.S. politics since his appointment, has recently pointed out the contradictions in debates surrounding abortion, the death penalty, and immigration. He believes that a true pro-life stance cannot be selective, and he questions the logic of those who claim to be against abortion but support the death penalty or the inhumane treatment of immigrants.
"Someone who says 'I'm against abortion but I'm in favor of the death penalty' is not truly pro-life," Leo stated. "And someone who says they're against abortion but agrees with the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the United States... I'm not sure that's pro-life either."
Catholic leaders in the U.S. have been vocal in their opposition to the Trump administration's crackdown, which has torn families apart, instilled fear, and disrupted the lives of migrants in American churches and schools. The administration, however, defends its actions as necessary for public safety and national security.
Seitz, who chairs the migration committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, emphasized the importance of teaching the faith and the Gospel message, which recognizes the inherent dignity of all God's children and the need to care for the poor and welcome strangers. He believes that the Church must speak out, even if it means entering a political fray.
"They can't go out. They're afraid to shop, to go to church, so they stay home," Maria wrote. "The pope needs to talk to Trump and ask him to think about what he's doing."
Pope Francis, before his passing, strongly criticized the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations, arguing that such forceful removals deprive people of their inherent dignity. Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope in history, has followed in Francis' footsteps, celebrating a special Holy Year Mass for migrants and denouncing the "coldness of indifference" and "stigma of discrimination" that migrants often face.
There are rumors within the Vatican that Pope Leo may consider a trip to the United States next year, when the country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. President Trump has extended an invitation, and Pope Leo's potential visit could be a powerful symbol of unity and a chance to address the immigration crisis directly.
"Later on in the meeting, he said, 'I will stand with you,'" Seitz recalled. "It was a beautiful exchange."
The question remains: Will Pope Leo's voice make a difference in the ongoing debate over immigration policy? And what impact could a potential visit to the U.S.-Mexico border have on the lives of those affected by these policies?
