Pope Leo
“No one is suggesting that we should just open our borders to the U.S.,” the Pope mentioned during an impromptu press conference on Tuesday.
“I think every nation has the right to determine who enters, how, and when,” he added. The Catholic faith has acknowledged for 1,600 years that governments hold the authority to govern the world, while moral justice is something to be settled in the afterlife.
On the other hand, many progressives, including some Islamists, contend that their vision of justice should be enforced globally, which can ignore significant costs and sacrifices related to civic duties.
This statement from the Pope followed a period where mainstream media highlighted a pro-immigration statement made by U.S. bishops on November 12.
However, the same media outlet somewhat minimized the aspect of the statement supporting citizens’ rights to manage their borders, framing it as an acknowledgment of the responsibility that states have in regulating borders and creating fair immigration systems for the collective good.
The Church’s communications reveal a complex relationship between honoring the secular authority of governments while advocating for the dignity and rights of individuals worldwide, including immigrants. This tension between the Church’s universal principles and governmental policies has been recognized over many years by senior Church leaders.
During the same press conference where the Pope advocated for borders, he also urged for increased aid to migrants, though he wasn’t explicitly directing actions.
I’d really like all Catholics—especially those of goodwill—to pay close attention to the following: The Bishops stated that we need to find ways to treat people with the dignity they deserve.
If individuals are in the U.S. without legal status, there are systems in place to handle it. Sure, there are many flaws in that system. Nobody’s claiming that the U.S. should simply open its borders. Every nation indeed has the right to control who comes in, and under what conditions.
Nevertheless, people [illegal immigrants] who’ve built a decent life—many do—after years of mistreatment, including violence in some cases, deserve consideration. I believe the bishops were quite clear. It’s important for U.S. citizens to make their voices heard.
As both a spiritual and secular leader, the Pope navigates between different interest groups.
For instance, on November 19, he had a brief discussion with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a noted opponent of federal immigration enforcement through ICE. Naturally, Pritzker described the Pope as an ally against ICE, mentioning that the Pope was interested in his views on current conditions.
Pritzker had also been supportive of President Biden’s immigration relief initiatives that led to the suffering of many immigrants and Americans from 2021 to 2024.
According to estimates by the United Nations Missing Migrants Project, at least 349 people went missing or died in Caribbean waters last year, which is nearly twice the count from the previous year.
“This represents the highest death toll since records started in 2014 and might actually be an underreport,” noted Edwin Biales, who works for the UN project.
Reports have focused on the rescue of 25 survivors from a boat meant to carry around 65 people by the Bahamian Coast Patrol.
Authorities prepared the bodies for burial. One heart-wrenching photo showed a body lying face down on a tarp. Lenise Georges, a Haitian native, has been attending services in a Nassau church, reflecting on the tragedy.
A WhatsApp message revealed the body of his sister, Altany Ivoi, a mother of three, alongside her one-year-old daughter, Courtney, who was the only child aboard the ill-fated boat.
Poll data indicates that while many Catholics oppose large-scale immigration, they also possess a desire to support those who are less fortunate.
The Church is grappling with these immigration challenges even within its own territory in Vatican City. Earlier this year, the Catholic News Agency reported on a law that significantly heightened penalties for illegal entry into Vatican territory.
The new law stipulates hefty fines and prison sentences for violations of security regulations. Reports mention potential fines between 10,000 and 25,000 euros (€10,200 – €25,700) and incarceration of one to four years for offenders.
