Pope Francis has condemned President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to deport illegal migrants from the United States, labelling them a “disgrace” if they were to materialise.
Speaking to an Italian TV programme from his Vatican residence, Francis expressed his disapproval, stating that Trump’s actions would make “poor wretches that don’t have anything foot the bill.”
He added, “That’s not right. That’s not how you solve problems.”
Trump’s Deportation Plans
Trump has vowed to initiate the largest expulsion of undocumented immigrants in US history shortly after taking office.
In response, Pope Francis sent a message to Trump on Monday, offering “cordial greetings” and urging him to lead a society with “no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion” while promoting “peace and reconciliation among peoples.”
Pope’s Stance on Migration
Pope Francis has consistently advocated for the rights of migrants. During a public audience last August, he described the systematic expulsion of migrants as “a grave sin.”
In 2016, before Trump’s first presidential election victory, Francis remarked that “a person who thinks only about building walls… and not of building bridges, is not Christian.”
Referring to Trump’s promise to build a wall on the Mexican border, Francis said, “I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and I will give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Migration to Europe
During the interview on Sunday evening, Francis also addressed the issue of migration to Europe, highlighting the “cruelty” faced by migrants and asserting that everyone has “the right to remain home and the right to emigrate.”
He noted that some southern European countries, which receive the most migrant arrivals, are experiencing population declines and could benefit from a well-thought-out migrant policy.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East
In another segment of the interview, Francis discussed the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, expressing his bewilderment at the difficulty of achieving peace. “I don’t know why… it’s as if there was an international drive towards self-destruction,” the Pope said.
Pope Francis Fell, Suffered Injury
The Vatican confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the pontiff’s arm was immobilised as a precautionary measure and that no fractures were detected.
Images released by the Vatican showed Pope Francis with his arm in a soft sling during his meetings on Thursday morning.