Amid ongoing debates over immigration policy, President Donald Trump has expressed openness to meeting with Pope Leo XIV, despite not being aware of the pope’s recent criticisms of his policies. The pontiff had previously labeled Trump’s immigration stance as “inhumane.”
During a recent interview conducted by Politico’s Dasha Burns, Trump was asked about the pope’s comments. Trump claimed he hadn’t heard the remarks, adding, “I’m sure he’s a lovely man. His brother’s a lovely man.”
The president fondly recalled a meeting with the pope’s brother, a notable supporter of Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign. This meeting took place at the White House following the papal election earlier this year.
In response to a question from Politico about whether he would meet with Pope Leo XIV, Trump affirmed, “Sure I will, why not?”
The pope’s comments on Trump’s immigration policies were in reaction to a “Special Message” from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that criticized Trump’s approach. The pontiff emphasized the need for humane treatment of individuals, stating, “We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have.”
He further remarked on the necessity of a just legal system for handling illegal immigration, acknowledging a country’s right to control its borders while opposing the “extremely disrespectful” treatment of long-term undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
The USCCB’s statement condemned the “climate of fear and anxiety” created by immigration enforcement under Trump and denounced the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
This is not Pope Leo XIV’s first foray into the contentious topic. A month before, he had suggested that pro-life advocates should also oppose the mistreatment of immigrants.
In 2017, Trump had a private meeting with Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s predecessor. However, he has yet to meet the new pope, Robert Prevost, who became the first U.S.-born pope in history following Francis’ passing in April. Prevost, originally from Chicago, took the name Leo XIV upon his election in May.
Previously, Trump had shown an interest in meeting the newly elected pontiff, expressing a willingness in July to do so, though no plans were made at that time. He remarked positively on Pope Leo XIV’s brother during those comments, stating, “I like the pope’s brother, and I think I’d like the pope.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
