Pope Leo XIV Urges US Church Unity on Migrant Crisis Amid Enforcement Raids

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has expressed strong support for the Catholic Church's united stance on immigration issues in the United States, emphasizing the dignity of migrants and urging U.S. bishops to speak collectively on the matter. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, who leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' migration committee, presented the pope with letters and a video detailing the fears and challenges faced by immigrants under the Trump administration's crackdown, highlighting the human toll of deportations and enforcement actions. The pope encouraged Latino Catholic ministers and immigration advocates by acknowledging their vital work and stressing that the marginalized must never feel abandoned by God. Pope Leo also drew attention to the broader moral contradictions in political debates, linking immigration treatment with the pro-life ethos. These meetings and messages underscore the Vatican's call for compassion and humane treatment of immigrants amidst escalating U.S. enforcement policies, with the pope personally engaging with those on the front lines of this crisis.