November 18, 2025
Pope joins U.S. bishops in rare institutional rebuke, marking first Special Pastoral Message in 12 years
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Special Pastoral Message on Nov. 12, 2025, condemning Trump''s mass deportation effort and praying for an end to "dehumanizing rhetoric and violence.
" The message passed 216-5 with 3 abstentions, marking the first Special Message in 12 years.
Bishops expressed concern about conditions in detention centers, lack of pastoral care access, climate of fear in immigrant communities, and indiscriminate mass deportations.
Pope Leo XIV backed the bishops'' statement on Nov. 18, calling treatment of migrants in the U.S. "extremely disrespectful.
" The bishops'' message comes as Operation Charlotte''s Web and other enforcement operations separated families and detained U.S. citizens.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Special Pastoral Message on immigration on Nov. 12, 2025. The message passed with 216 votes in favor, 5 votes against, and 3 abstentions. It marked the first time in 12 years the USCCB invoked this particularly urgent way of speaking as a body of bishops. The last Special Message was issued in 2013 in response to the federal government's contraceptive mandate.
The bishops wrote that they are disturbed when they see among their people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. They opposed indiscriminate mass deportation of people and prayed for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence. They raised concerns about conditions in detention centers and lack of access to pastoral care.
Pope Leo XIV backed the bishops' statement on Nov. 18, 2025, saying he is troubled by the violent and at times extremely disrespectful ways migrants have been treated in the United States. The U.S.-born pope said when people have lived good lives for 10, 15, 20 years, treating them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, with instances of violence, is troubling.
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso was one of the bishops behind the message. PBS NewsHour interviewed him about the statement. Seitz oversees a diocese on the U.S.-Mexico border and has witnessed immigration enforcement operations firsthand.
Under USCCB regulations, a Special Message may only be issued at plenary assemblies and must receive two-thirds of Conference members present and voting. The 216 yes votes easily exceeded the two-thirds threshold, showing strong consensus among Catholic bishops.
Pope, Leader of Catholic Church
Bishop of El Paso, Texas
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