Pope Leo XIV has taken direct aim at President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, delivering his harshest rebuke yet of the administration’s handling of detained migrants.
During a public appearance Tuesday, the Chicago-born pontiff called for “deep reflection” on America’s treatment of those held by ICE. The remarks came after reports that priests and nuns were blocked from bringing Eucharist to migrants at the Broadview ICE facility near Chicago.
Pope Leo urged federal authorities to grant pastoral workers access to the detainees, saying many have been separated from their families and face uncertain futures.
“Their own spiritual needs should be attended to,” he said, according to the National Catholic Reporter.
The pope then cited Scripture while addressing the Trump administration’s policies.
“We’re going to be asked, you know, ‘How do you receive the foreigner? Did you receive him and welcome him or not?’” he said. “And I think that there’s a deep reflection that needs to be made in terms of what’s happening.”
He added that “many people who’ve lived for years and years and years in the United States, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what’s going on right now.”
The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, which has been appealing to authorities for access to the facility, praised the pope’s intervention, per the Daily Mail.
“We’re deeply grateful to Pope Leo XIV for raising his voice in defense of the detained and affirming their right to spiritual care,” the group said in a statement. “His leadership gives us strength to keep pressing until the doors of this facility in Broadview are opened.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson defended the decision to bar clergy, saying the Broadview site is a field office, not a detention center.
“Religious organizations are more than welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios. “Due to Broadview’s status as a field office and ongoing safety concerns, they are not able to accommodate these requests at this time.”
Catholic historian Austen Ivereigh said the pope’s words mark his “strongest criticism” of Trump since taking office in May. “I was struck by how direct his reference was,” he told the BBC. “It’s very strong.”
Ivereigh added that the comments could “put pressure on the Trump administration,” particularly among American Catholics.
The pope has generally avoided political conflict since his election, but last month he described the Trump-led migrant crackdown as “inhuman.”
Leo also condemned military action near Venezuela, warning that “with violence, we won’t win.” He suggested U.S. naval deployments were heightening tensions rather than defending peace.
Experts say the message is clear — the American-born pontiff intends to continue the social justice focus of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
“They realize that he’s very different from Francis in his style, but it’s the same teaching and priorities,” Ivereigh said. “He’s very much a continuation.”
