By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/VATICAN CITY/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Pope Francis has condemned U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s attempt to deport illegal migrants, saying the “family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there” are “the example” why the policy fails.
In a letter seen by Worthy News on Thursday, Francis urged American bishops not to buy into Trump’s criticism of migrants arriving in the United States without proper documents but instead advocate for their rights and protections.
“I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of goodwill, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters,” he wrote.
He also wrote to the American bishops, “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”
The pontiff of over 1 billion Catholics has been sharply critical of the president’s immigration push since his first term.
Before Trump’s inauguration, Pope Francis called his pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants a “disgrace.”
‘NOT CHRISTIAN’
However, the two apparently worked out their differences during Trump’s visit to the Vatican in 2017, which Trump called him “fantastic.”
Fast forward, Pope Francis wrote, “Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example, and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country.”
He stressed that “all refugees of every condition” beset by “persecution or necessity” are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family, and dear friends for foreign lands.”
“Likewise, Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception,” the pope added.
“In fact, when we speak of ‘infinite and transcendent dignity’ we wish to emphasize that the most decisive value possessed by the human person surpasses and sustains every other juridical consideration that can be made to regulate life in society.”
Therefore, “all the Christian faithful and people of goodwill are called upon to consider the legitimacy of norms and public policies in the light of the dignity of the person and his or her fundamental rights, not vice versa,” he said.
MAJOR CRISIS
“I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations,” Francis added.
He acknowledged that “one must recognize the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival.”
However, “That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness,” Pope Francis stressed.
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Yet President Trump has said he is not against and will even welcome migrants entering the United States legally.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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