September 30, 2025
Pope Leo XIV says U.S. immigrant treatment is 'inhuman' and questions a narrow 'pro-life' label
First US-born pope criticizes home country's immigration policy
🛂Immigration🎭Religion & Culture✊Civil Rights
On October 1, 2025, Pope Leo XIV told journalists outside his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo that Americans who oppose abortion but support the ''inhuman treatment of immigrants'' cannot simply call themselves pro-life.
He made the remarks in response to a US journalist''s question about American politics and contemporaneous controversy over the Archdiocese of Chicago''s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin.
The White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the president''s immigration agenda as fulfilling campaign promises and as grounded in the administration''s view of lawful authority.
Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born pope; his public intervention sharpened divisions among U.S. bishops over how the Church engages politicians who support immigrants but also back abortion rights.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, made the remarks to reporters outside Castel Gandolfo on October 1, 2025.
He said, 'Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life.'.
The Archdiocese of Chicago had planned a Nov. 3 immigration fundraiser honoring Sen. Dick Durbin, but Durbin declined the award after the controversy.
The White House response came from spokesperson Abigail Jackson, who framed the matter as the president keeping campaign promises and defended the administration's enforcement approach.
Several conservative U.S. bishops, including Bishop Thomas Paprocki, publicly objected to honoring Durbin and criticized the pope's intervention.
News outlets reported the Vatican's coverage of the exchange; reporters quoted the pope in Italian and in translation, characterizing his language as calling certain practices 'inhuman.'.
🛂Immigration🎭Religion & Culture✊Civil Rights
People, bills, and sources
Pope Leo XIV
Pontiff; first U.S.-born pope
Abigail Jackson
White House spokesperson
Cardinal Blase Cupich
Archbishop of Chicago
Senator Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator (Illinois)
What You Can Do
1
civic action
Monitor U.S. bishops' public statements
Track statements from the USCCB and key diocesan bishops to see whether they align with or distance themselves from the pope's framing.
usccb@
2
understanding
Track policy and legal challenges to deportation operations
Follow federal court rulings and DOJ filings that constrain or authorize deportation activity and monitor reported arrest counts and court orders.
publicaffairs@
3
practicing
Watch congressional testimony and hearings
Note statements and votes in the Senate and House on immigration enforcement funding or rule changes after Oct. 1, 2025.
contact@