Leavitt Rejects Pope Leo XIV's Criticism of US Immigration Policies

Pope Leo XIV criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies and support for the death penalty, stating that those who support these measures cannot truly be considered pro-life. He specifically condemned what he described as the "inhumane treatment of immigrants" in the United States and criticized comments made by Pete Hegseth regarding military leadership. In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected the pope's characterization, defending the administration's immigration enforcement as humane and attributing previous, more severe immigration issues to former President Joe Biden's policies. Leavitt emphasized that the current administration is enforcing immigration laws in a humane manner on behalf of American citizens. The pope's remarks were part of a broader discussion surrounding Catholic ethics, including a controversial award to Senator Dick Durbin, which sparked debate among people of faith. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between religious perspectives on morality and the political handling of immigration and capital punishment in the U.S.