Pope Leo’s Emotional Plea to U.S. Bishops: Stand With Immigrants Amid Trump Deportation Surge

Pope Leo’s Urgent Message to American Bishops
Trump’s Deportation Crackdown Hits Chicago—Pope’s Hometown
Handwritten Letters from Immigrants Move the Pope
U.S. Bishops Prepare Unified Response
Faith, Politics, and the Pro-Life Debate
What Happens Next for the U.S. Catholic Church?
Sources

Pope Leo’s Urgent Message to American Bishops

In a rare and emotionally charged meeting at the Vatican this week, Pope Leo XIV delivered a clear directive to a delegation of U.S. Catholic leaders: stand firmly with immigrants. The message comes as the Trump administration intensifies its nationwide deportation campaign—ironically targeting Chicago, the pope’s own hometown.

“He said, ‘I am happy to stand with you,’” recalled Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, visibly moved by the encounter. The pope’s eyes even welled up as he received over 100 handwritten letters from undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families across the United States.

Trump’s Deportation Crackdown Hits Chicago—Pope’s Hometown

President Trump’s latest immigration enforcement push includes deploying National Guard troops to major cities, with Chicago at the center of the operation. For Pope Leo—born and raised in the Windy City—the timing is deeply personal.

While the pope did not name Trump directly, the context was unmistakable. Catholic parishes report families skipping Mass out of fear of ICE raids, and priests are increasingly acting as both spiritual and legal advocates for vulnerable communities.

Handwritten Letters from Immigrants Move the Pope

The delegation from El Paso presented the letters tied with simple twine and accompanied by a yellow note in Spanish: “Pope Leo, please listen to the clamor of those who are being marginalized.”

They also showed the pope a four-minute video titled “Letter to Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic Church in the United States,” which highlighted both the fears and resilience of immigrant families. “We all huddled around the screen and watched together,” said Dylan Corbett of the Hope Border Institute.

U.S. Bishops Prepare Unified Response

Pope Leo urged the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to issue a “forceful and unified” statement on immigration. According to Bishop Seitz, such a statement is already in the works ahead of the bishops’ annual meeting in Baltimore next month.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, is scheduled to meet with the pope in the coming days to discuss the state of the Church in America—where nearly one-third of Catholics are Hispanic.

Faith, Politics, and the Pro-Life Debate

In a pointed reflection, Pope Leo challenged the selective application of “pro-life” values among some conservative Catholics. “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhumane treatment of immigrants who are in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” he remarked from Castel Gandolfo.

The comment echoes broader tensions within the U.S. Church, where some bishops recently criticized Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago for honoring Senator Dick Durbin—a pro-immigration Democrat who also supports abortion rights.

What Happens Next for the U.S. Catholic Church?

With immigration at the heart of both national politics and pastoral care, the U.S. Catholic Church faces a defining moment. Pope Leo’s call for unity and moral clarity may pressure bishops to take a stronger public stance—even if it means clashing with political allies.

As one activist put it: “This isn’t just about policy. It’s about whether the Church will be a home for everyone—or only the safe and the documented.”