Pope Leo XIV has faced mounting criticism from conservative Catholics after making a strong statement against the immigration policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to the media, the Pope said:
“I don’t know if you can call yourself pro-life if you oppose abortion but support the inhumane treatment of migrants.”
The remarks provoked swift backlash from conservative figures, many of whom had previously supported the Pope for his traditional positions on faith and church practices. According to Reuters, several accused him of creating “moral confusion,” while the White House labeled the comments as inaccurate and biased.
Despite the criticism, Vatican sources confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has no intention of retracting his statement, underscoring his commitment to humanitarian issues and the defense of migrant rights.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, was elected in May 2025. Initially, he gained strong support from the Catholic right for his efforts to restore certain traditional liturgical and ecclesiastical practices.
