Pope Francis has issued a strong condemnation of recent US immigration policy.
In a letter addressed to US bishops on February 10, 2025, Pope Francis criticized policies that he says equate undocumented immigrants with criminals.
“The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality,” the Pope wrote. He emphasized that laws should be evaluated in light of human dignity rather than vice versa.
The Pope’s message comes in response to new immigration directives which include large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants. Reports indicate that thousands have already been expelled under these policies.
Pope Francis acknowledged a nation’s right to enforce its borders but insisted that deportation policies should not undermine the dignity of vulnerable individuals and families. He cited Pope Pius XII’s 1952 apostolic constitution Exsul Familia, which frames migration as a fundamental human right. He further drew parallels between the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt and modern migration crises, reinforcing the Church’s long-standing advocacy for migrants and refugees.
His letter also addressed Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent remarks defending Trump’s immigration stance using the Thomistic concept of ordo amoris (order of love). Vance argued that national leaders should prioritize the welfare of their citizens over foreigners. However, Pope Francis said that Christian love must be modeled after the Good Samaritan, fostering “a fraternity open to all, without exception.”
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed the Pope’s letter, calling for a more humane immigration system that balances national security with compassion by protecting immigrant families from unjust separation.
The White House has not officially responded to the Pope’s letter.
Photo credit: Shaleah Craighead, CC BY 3.0 US via Wikimedia Commons
