Pope Sends Letter to US Bishops Slamming Mass Deportations, Says Illegal Immigrants Are Not Criminals
Pope Francis continues to wade into American politics in a way he doesn’t do for other countries, sending a letter to US bishops decrying mass deportation and rejecting “any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.”
While there is no such thing as a ‘good’ pope, since they are the head of an evil and wicked heterodox church, Francis has been particularly noxious and vexatious, doing things like affirming the faith of Joe Biden and saying he would never refuse him communion because the President’s love for abortion is between him and God, endorsing civil unions for gay couples, appointing multiple pro-choice people to his pro-life organization, saying that all religions lead to God, and are merely “different paths,” appointing a notorious pro-LGBTQ priest to a major post, releasing an outrageously blasphemous statement, saying that sermons should be no more than 8 minutes, and insisting that “people are fundamentally good” and that “the heart itself is good.”
In his letter, Francis explains that:
“The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, 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, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.”
As a result, he insists that while a country has a right to defend itself and close off its borders from illegal immigrants who committed criminal acts before coming, it does not have that same right if they’ve committed no crime prior, while also arguing that crossing illegally is no crime.
I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations. The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.
At the same time, 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.
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.
He concludes with exhorting “all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters” while asking “Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect individuals and families who live in fear or pain due to migration and/or deportation.”
Letter in full below:
Lettera del Santo Padre
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
I am writing today to address a few words to you in these delicate moments that you are living as Pastors of the People of God who walk together in the United States of America.
1. The journey from slavery to freedom that the People of Israel traveled, as narrated in the Book of Exodus, invites us to look at the reality of our time, so clearly marked by the phenomenon of migration, as a decisive moment in history to reaffirm not only our faith in a God who is always close, incarnate, migrant and refugee, but also the infinite and transcendent dignity of every human person.[1]
2. These words with which I begin are not an artificial construct. Even a cursory examination of the Church’s social doctrine emphatically shows that Jesus Christ is the true Emmanuel (cf.Mt1:23); he did not live apart from the difficult experience of being expelled from his own land because of an imminent risk to his life, and from the experience of having to take refuge in a society and a culture foreign to his own. The Son of God, in becoming man, also chose to live the drama of immigration. I like to recall, among other things, the words with which Pope Pius XII began his Apostolic Constitution on the Care of Migrants, which is considered the “Magna Carta” of the Church’s thinking on migration:
“The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, 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, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.”[2]
3. Likewise, Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception. 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. Thus, all the Christian faithful and people of good will 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.
4. I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations. The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality. At the same time, 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. 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.
5. This is not a minor issue: an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized. The true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all — as I have affirmed on numerous occasions — welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable. This does not impede the development of a policy that regulates orderly and legal migration. However, this development cannot come about through the privilege of some and the sacrifice of others. 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.
6. Christians know very well that it is only by affirming the infinite dignity of all that our own identity as persons and as communities reaches its maturity. Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups. In other words: the human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings! The human person is a subject with dignity who, through the constitutive relationship with all, especially with the poorest, can gradually mature in his identity and vocation. The trueordo amoristhat must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (cf.Lk10:25-37), that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.[3]
7. But worrying about personal, community or national identity, apart from these considerations, easily introduces an ideological criterion that distorts social life and imposes the will of the strongest as the criterion of truth.
8. I recognize your valuable efforts, dear brother bishops of the United States, as you work closely with migrants and refugees, proclaiming Jesus Christ and promoting fundamental human rights. God will richly reward all that you do for the protection and defense of those who are considered less valuable, less important or less human!
9. I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters. With charity and clarity we are all called to live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy and to learn to give our lives as Jesus Christ gave his for the salvation of all.
10. Let us ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to protect individuals and families who live in fear or pain due to migration and/or deportation. May the “Virgen morena”, who knew how to reconcile peoples when they were at enmity, grant us all to meet again as brothers and sisters, within her embrace, and thus take a step forward in the construction of a society that is more fraternal, inclusive and respectful of the dignity of all.
Fraternally,
Francis
From the Vatican, 10 February 2025
About Author
People in walled Vaticans shouldn’t throw stones.
As usual, the pope is wrong. The immigrants crossed the border illegally, primarily for financial benefits, therefore they are criminals. Some are more serious criminals than others, but all of them are criminals. Deport all of them and tell them to apply for legal migration.
What is the most convenint airport that can handle a C-130 that is located in Rome? The Pope has enough art and treasure to take care of a few million vagrent illegals in perpetuity!
The USA has a legal system where those seeking asylum can throught the proper channnels apply or if Mexicans can come to the front door and knock and ask for asylum. Breaking in through a back door or window makes them criminals. Paying criminals to smuggle them in makes them criminals and funds the activities of criminals.
Most Catholics reject this pope. No need to slam their religion to make a point.
How many illegals has the Vatican taken in?
That ignorant, satanic, false prophet doesn’t understand the word “illegal?” As in broken law…as in committing a crime…thus a “criminal?” He understands it when somebody crosses the Vatican fence and gets sent to jail. Why? Because the presence of a trespasser is ILLEGAL!!! Pray Psalm 109:8 for this lying devil…”Let his days be few and let another take his office.”…sooner than later…before he destroys the whole church.
USAID has been sending US government funds to the Vatican …no wonder this pope has his “regal garments” in a wad!
Yet the Vatican passed laws recently to prosecute anyone violating their walls.
YES! THEY A R E CRIMINALS!! Entering a country without the proper authority is illegal, which makes these immigrants CRIMINALS!
This “pope” is more like a poop.
How many will the Pope accept into the Vatican City? If you said “None”, you win the prize.
Just say to the pope “Ite, missa est” (“Leave, you’re dismissed”) which will work for translating “you’re fired” into Latin until I get ahold of a Latin dictionary.
It has been quite clear for several years that this “pope” attaches more importance to the “commandments” of Marxism than those of the Catholic Church. Instead of working to bring his church members closer to God, he expends more energy meddling in the affairs of nations, especially the USA. Maybe there is a financial motive that drives him as Catholic organizations have taken millions, or billions, of hard earned taxpayer money to afford them treatment and benefits that far exceed what the poor in this country get.
He cares little for legal US citizens living in poverty, but favors those who have illegally breeched our borders for gain. There are laws that allow migrants to enter this country legally. Instead the pope favors those who have broken our law and disrespect our country. Truthfully, this pope a Marxist pretending to be the holy representative of God. He is a hypocrite who should stop criticizing others.