Pope Francis Calls Trump's Mass Deportation Plan a "Disgrace"

The pontiff's comments mark his latest targeting Trump's immigration policies.

Pope Francis (Vatican Media file photo)

By Gary Gately

Pope Francis, who has made advocacy for migrants a hallmark of his papacy, denounced as a “disgrace” President-elect Donald J. Trump’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Francis’ comments came during an Italian TV program when the interviewer asked him about Trump’s mass deportation plan.

“This, if it’s true, will be a disgrace, because it will make poor unfortunates who have nothing foot the bill” suffer as a result of global inequities, Francis said, adding: “That doesn’t work. You don’t solve things that way. You just don’t.”

On Monday, the 88-year-old Jesuit pontiff, the first Latin American pope, followed up with a telegram to Trump, writing: “It is my hope that under your leadership the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion.”

Francis has often criticized Trump’s border policies. In 2016, the pope said Trump’s plan to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border to keep migrants out was “not Christian.” In 2018, the Holy Father agreed with U.S. bishops who called the Trump administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents “immoral” and “contrary to our Catholic values.”

And in September, Francis criticized both U.S. presidential candidates for what he characterized as their anti-life positions on abortion and migration, advising Americans to vote for the “lesser evil” between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies,″ Francis said at the time.

Two weeks ago, Francis appointed as archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, known for his strong pro-immigrant views.

“The Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders, and our nation’s desire to do that is a legitimate effort,” McElroy told reporters. “At the same time, we are called always to have a sense of the dignity of every human person, and thus plans, which have been talked about at some levels, of having a wider, indiscriminate, massive deportation across the country would be something that would be incompatible with Catholic doctrine. So we’ll have to see what emerges in the administration.”

For its part, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued guidelines ahead of Trump’s inauguration calling for “targeted, proportional and human” immigration enforcement measures.

The guidelines state that “safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals” but add: “A country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good….

“The dehumanization or vilification of non-citizens as a means to deprive them of protection under the law is not only contrary to the rule of law but an affront to God himself, who has created them in his own image. Further restricting access to humanitarian protections will only endanger those who are most vulnerable and deserving of relief.”

And Chicago's Cardinal Blase J. Cupich called the Trump administration’s reported plans to conduct immigration raids in that city next week “profoundly disturbing.”

In a statement, Cupich added: The Catholic community stands with the people of Chicago in speaking out in defense of the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers…. If the indiscriminate mass deportation being reported were to be carried out, this would be an affront to the dignity of all people and communities, and deny the legacy of what it means to be an American.”

Catholic’s played a pivotal role in Trump’s astounding political comeback. He won the Catholic vote by a 20% margin, the largest of any presidential candidate in more than a half-century, according to exit polls. By contrast, President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, won 52% of the Catholic vote in 2020, compared with 47% for Trump, according to Washington Post and Edison exit polls.

Trump’s election drew praise from conservative Catholic organizations and pro-lifers, while more progressive Catholic groups, LGBTQ Catholics and immigration advocates expressed dismay and anxiety.