 "Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, at the Vatican. Reuters")
In an apparent reference to the inhuman treatment in the United States under President Donald Trump, Pope Leo XIV has said that a person could not be ‘pro-life’ if they would be okay with the inhuman treatment of migrants.
In an interview with Catholic network EWTN, Leo said that a person could not claim to be pro-life just by rejecting abortion. He said that a person would also need to have compassion and empathy for fellow humans, including migrants.
“Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. And someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” said Leo, the leader of the world’s Catholic Christians.
Under Trump, the federal government has ignored due process to crack down on migrants. Videos of masked federal agent operating out of unmarked cars have appeared regularly that show them rounding up migrants violently. The detention centres, including the infamous Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, have been said to be unsanitary and overcrowded where inmates are treated violently. Inmates have said floors in their cage cells have often been awash with human filth.
Leo’s remarks are notable because he is the first American national to become the pope. And he drove the message that even though Trump and his far-right supporters have often involved Christianity, their behaviour is not in line with traditional Christian values.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFollowing Leo’s remarks, the White House rejected the administration’s treatment of migrants was inhumane.
“I would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration. There was, however, significant, inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration as they were being trafficked and raped and beaten, in many cases killed over our United States southern border,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.