Pope Leo has called for “deep reflection” on how migrants are being treated in the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, emphasizing that their spiritual needs must be respected. Speaking at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, the first American-born pontiff expressed concern over reports that detainees at a federal facility in Broadview, near Chicago, were denied access to receive Holy Communion, a central element of Catholic worship.
Citing the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, Pope Leo reminded the faithful of Jesus’ message about welcoming the foreigner, urging compassion and empathy for migrants facing detention. “Many people who have lived for years without causing problems are being deeply affected by current policies,” he said, stressing that the Church must care for both the physical and spiritual well-being of all individuals, including those in detention centers.
The pope’s comments follow an incident on November 1, All Saints’ Day, when a delegation of clergy, including a Catholic bishop, was prevented from delivering Holy Communion to detainees in Broadview. The facility is part of the Trump administration’s stricter immigration enforcement campaign, with over 3,000 people reportedly detained in the Chicago area by the Department of Homeland Security.
Pope Leo, who succeeded the late Pope Francis in May, has maintained a more reserved style but has increasingly voiced criticism of U.S. immigration policies. In his first major document, issued October 9, he appealed for global solidarity with migrants, echoing Pope Francis’ earlier rebukes of Trump’s hardline stance.
Addressing other political issues, Leo also criticized the U.S. government’s deployment of warships near Venezuela, saying that military actions should aim to “defend peace” rather than escalate tensions. “We won’t win with violence,” he said, urging dialogue as the path to resolving international conflicts.