White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has responded to Pope Leo’s criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The Pope told journalists outside Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, 30 September: “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 comment was made in response to a question about the recent controversy over Cardinal Capuch’s decision to present a lifetime achievement award to the pro-abortion senator Dick Durbin.
US bishops reacted with dismay at the planned recipient of the award. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, in whose diocese Durbin’s official residence is located, told The Pillar he was “shocked” by the announcement, citing the senator’s opposition to bills aimed at restricting late-term abortion and protecting infants who survive attempted terminations.
After more than a week of controversy, Durbin declined the lifetime achievement award from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The Pope’s remarks urged Catholics to think about pro-life beliefs in a broader sense, warning that there are other offences against the sanctity of life besides abortion. His reference to the “inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States” was a clear allusion to the thousands of people forcibly removed under President Donald Trump. In the first 100 days of Trump’s second term alone, ICE reported 65,682 removals.
Leavitt, however, was quick to reject the characterisation of the administration’s policies. “I would reject that there was inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration,” the 28-year-old told reporters. She continued: “This administration is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible, and we are upholding the law. We are doing that on behalf of the people of our country who live here.”
Leavitt also took aim at the Biden administration, claiming: “There was, however, significant inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration, as they were being trafficked, raped, beaten and, in many cases, killed over our southern border.” She further cited the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was murdered by José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who had entered the United States illegally.
The apparent conflict between the Trump administration and the Holy See echoes the days of Pope Francis, who frequently clashed with Trump over immigration policy. Commenting on Trump’s plans to deport millions of migrants, the late pontiff said: “If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the inequalities.”
Until this exchange, Pope Leo had appeared to enjoy something of a honeymoon with American conservatives, who seemed to recognise the American pontiff as one of their own. But the Church has long considered itself close to migrants and those on the margins of society.
In Exsul Familia, Pope Pius XII wrote that the Holy Family “are the model, the example and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country,” and that “the Church must not only offer migrants material help, but also spiritual guidance and the preservation of their faith in new surroundings.” This remains especially true in the United States, where the vast majority of immigrants come from Catholic countries.
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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