Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday robustly endorsed the U.S. bishops’ recent denunciation of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, urging Americans to lend an empathetic ear to migrants and uphold their dignity and humanity.

The pontiff addressed inquiries regarding the “special message” released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during their general meeting last week in Baltimore.

In their message, the bishops criticized President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy and the negative portrayal of migrants. They voiced alarm over the widespread fear and anxiety caused by immigration raids in communities and the lack of spiritual support provided to detainees.

The bishops expressed their concern, stating, “We are troubled by the pervasive fear and anxiety among our people regarding profiling and immigration enforcement. The current discourse saddens us, as does the demonization of immigrants. We are also deeply worried about the conditions in detention centers and the limited access to pastoral care,” opposing the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful following a special mass for the Jubilee of the poor in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (AP)

Leo, who holds the distinction of being the first American pope, expressed his gratitude for the U.S. bishops’ message and urged Catholics and people of all faiths to extend respect and compassion to migrants, irrespective of their legal status.

“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” Leo told reporters. “If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, there’s a system of justice.”

The pope has previously urged local bishops to speak out on social justice concerns. Catholic leaders have been criticizing Trump’s mass deportation plan, as fear of immigration raids has slashed Mass attendance at some parishes.

Catholic leaders have been criticizing Trump’s mass deportation plan, as fear of immigration raids has slashed Mass attendance at some parishes. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP/Getty Images)

The federal government earlier this year reversed a Biden administration directive prohibiting immigration agents from carrying out raids at sensitive areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.

Leo acknowledged problems with the U.S. migration system, but he emphasized that nobody has argued for the U.S. to have open borders and that every country may choose who can enter and the methods to do so.

“But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least — and there’s been some violence unfortunately — I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said,” he told reporters as he left the papal country house south of Rome.

The pope said he appreciated the U.S. bishops’ message and encouraged Catholics and all people of goodwill to listen to treat migrants with dignity. (Getty Images)

“I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them,” Leo added.

The bishops’ “special message” was the first time since 2013 they had drafted a single-issue statement at one of their meetings.