Pope Leo Vows Solidarity With U.S. Catholic Leaders in Defense of Immigrant Rights

VATICAN CITY — In a firm and emotional response to growing concerns over immigration policy in the United States, Pope Leo XIV pledged support for U.S. Catholic leaders who are defending immigrant communities impacted by mass deportations under the Trump administration.

During a private audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Leo met with a U.S. delegation including El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz and representatives from the Hope Border Institute, a Catholic advocacy group based in Texas. The group presented the pope with a collection of personal letters and a short video documenting the hardships faced by migrants and asylum seekers currently under threat of removal from the U.S.

“He watched the whole thing, and his eyes at the end were filled with tears,” said Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, who attended the meeting. “As the meeting came to an end he said, ‘You stand with me and I stand with you, and the Church will continue to accompany and stand with migrants.'”

According to Corbett, Pope Leo showed deep familiarity with the immigration crisis and urged U.S. bishops to be “more united and more forceful” in their public defense of migrant rights — a call for stronger ecclesiastical leadership at a time of political volatility.

‘A Deep Sense of Concern’

Bishop Seitz, whose diocese covers a significant stretch of the U.S.–Mexico border, said the pope was not only emotionally moved but also well-informed.

“He thanked us for our commitment to the immigrant peoples and also said he hopes that the bishops’ conference will speak to this issue,” Seitz told the Associated Press.

The Vatican audience came amid increasing pushback from Catholic leaders against the Trump administration’s expansive immigration enforcement agenda, which has led to over 2 million deportations since 2023. While administration officials argue the crackdown enhances public safety, advocates warn of family separations, heightened fear in immigrant communities, and human rights violations.

Continuing a Papal Legacy

Since taking office earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV has largely continued the pro-immigrant stance of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had warned that the Trump administration’s deportation campaign placed migrants in a “state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.”

Last week, Pope Leo intensified his critique, questioning whether support for the “inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States” is compatible with being “pro-life.” His remarks were swiftly rejected by the White House, which defended the administration’s policies and pointed to alleged human rights failures under previous leadership.

In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that the current administration’s immigration policies are “fair and lawful,” and redirected criticism toward past governments. The Vatican has not yet issued an official response to the administration’s rebuttal.

A Message for the Church in the U.S.

Despite the political friction, members of the U.S. delegation said they were encouraged by the pope’s clarity and moral leadership. For them, the meeting was not only symbolic but also a call to action for Catholic institutions across the country.

“We’ve got to be much more vigorous in our opposition and thoughtful about ways that we can push for some real reform,” Corbett emphasized after returning from Rome.

He added that the group intends to amplify the pope’s message among dioceses and parishes, using it to strengthen grassroots support for vulnerable immigrant families.