The head of the Catholic Church has again spoken out forcefully against the approach to immigration enforcement in the United States, characterizing the treatment of foreign nationals as profoundly demeaning. The pontiff endorsed a recent declaration from American bishops that denounced widespread deportation operations.
He emphasized the critical need to uphold human dignity, stating that individuals must be treated humanely regardless of their legal status. While acknowledging the right of any nation to control its borders, he pointed to the situation of people who have built lives in the U.S. over many years, only to face what he described as deeply disrespectful treatment, sometimes involving violence.
The Church leader questioned the moral consistency of policies that, in his view, simultaneously claim to value life while permitting harsh measures against immigrant populations. This marks a continuation of his increasingly pointed critiques on this issue in recent months.
Separately, in a message to an international environmental conference, he delivered a stark warning about the climate crisis. He lamented a global failure of political will, asserting that natural disasters and extreme weather are a cry for help from the planet itself. He called for genuine leadership characterized by service and large-scale action, arguing that existing international agreements are sound, but the commitment to implement them is lacking.
