Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday voiced robust support for the U.S. bishops’ recent message condemning the immigration policies of the Trump administration. He urged Americans to extend humane and dignified treatment to migrants, emphasizing the importance of listening to their stories.

During a discussion, the Pope addressed the “special message” issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during their general assembly in Baltimore last week. The bishops took a firm stance against President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies and the negative portrayal of migrants.

The bishops highlighted the fear and anxiety generated by immigration raids within communities, along with concerns over migrants being denied pastoral care in detention centers. “We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the bishops stated. They lamented the current state of debate and the vilification of immigrants, expressing dismay over conditions in detention centers and opposing “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”

In a symbolic gesture of solidarity, Pope Leo XIV was seen waving to the faithful after a special mass for the Jubilee of the poor in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV waves to the faithful after a special mass for the Jubilee of the poor, in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican, Sunday, Nov.16, 2025. (AP)

Leo, the first American pope, said he appreciated the U.S. bishops’ message and encouraged Catholics and all people of goodwill to listen to treat migrants with dignity, even if they are in the country illegally.

“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” Leo told reporters. “If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, there’s a system of justice.”

The pope has previously urged local bishops to speak out on social justice concerns. Catholic leaders have been criticizing Trump’s mass deportation plan, as fear of immigration raids has slashed Mass attendance at some parishes.

Catholic leaders have been criticizing Trump’s mass deportation plan, as fear of immigration raids has slashed Mass attendance at some parishes. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty Images)

The federal government earlier this year reversed a Biden administration directive prohibiting immigration agents from carrying out raids at sensitive areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.

Leo acknowledged problems with the U.S. migration system, but he emphasized that nobody has argued for the U.S. to have open borders and that every country may choose who can enter and the methods to do so.

“But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least — and there’s been some violence unfortunately — I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said,” he told reporters as he left the papal country house south of Rome.

The pope said he appreciated the U.S. bishops’ message and encouraged Catholics and all people of goodwill to listen to treat migrants with dignity. (Getty Images)

“I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them,” Leo added.

The bishops’ “special message” was the first time since 2013 they had drafted a single-issue statement at one of their meetings.