Pope Leo supports US Bishops' stance on Immigrants

Migrants at US/Mexico border, Credit: Columban Missionaries

Source: Vatican News

Pope Leo has commented on the 13 November statement released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during its plenary assembly in Baltimore. In a "Special Message" on immigration, the bishops assured immigrants of their solidarity and called for "meaningful reform" of the nation's immigration laws. They issued a pastoral letter rejecting mass expulsions, expressing concern for the situation in the country, and reaffirming that national security and the protection of human dignity are not incompatible.

On 18 November the Pope expressed appreciation for the bishops' statement, calling it "very important." He said: "I would like to invite all Catholics - and also people of good will - to listen carefully to what they have said. I believe we must seek ways of treating people with humanity, with the dignity that is theirs. If someone is in the United States illegally, there are ways to address this. There are courts. There is a judicial system. I believe there are many problems in the system. No one has said that the United States should have open borders; I think every country has the right to determine who enters, how, and when."

However, he added, "when people have lived good lives - many of them for 10, 15, 20 years - treating them in a way that is, to say the least, extremely disrespectful, and with instances of violence, is troubling."

Concluding, Pope Leo said: "The bishops have been very clear. I would simply invite all Americans to listen to them."

LINK

US Bishops 'Special Message' on immigration, where they assure immigrants of their solidarity and call for "meaningful reform" of the nation's immigration laws. www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-11/us-bishops-to-immigrants-we-stand-with-you-in-your-suffering.html