Pope Francis has condemned President-elect Donald Trump’s reported plan to escalate immigration enforcement across the United States in the days following his inauguration.
The Pope has voiced concern over the potential impact on vulnerable communities.
In an Italian television interview, Pope Francis said it would be a “disgrace” if Trump went forward with the immigration crackdown plan, in unusually forceful language for the leader of the global Catholic Church.
“It would make the migrants, who have nothing, pay the unpaid bill,” said the Pope.
“It doesn’t work. You don’t resolve problems this way.”
The Pope’s remarks were made during a video link from his Vatican residence with the “Che Tempo Che Fa” programme on Italy’s Channel 9.
Francis, leader of the 1.4 billion-member church, is usually careful about weighing in on political issues.
Pope’s Stance On Immigration
The Pope has made welcoming migrants a key theme of his nearly 12-year papacy, and he has previously criticized Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.
During the 2016 election, he said Trump was “not Christian” in his view.
Plans For Immigration Raids
Incoming Trump administration officials said on Saturday that the President-elect was reconsidering plans for immigration raids in Chicago next week, following reports about the plans.
Earlier on Sunday, Chicago’s Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich, also criticised the planned raids.
“This would be an affront to the dignity of all people and communities,” the Cardinal said in a statement.
Trump Vows Harsh Immigration Crackdown
Addressing a packed Washington arena on Sunday, Donald Trump pledged to impose strict immigration limits on his first day in office.
He promised to swiftly deliver on the central commitment of his presidential campaign.
Largest Deportation Effort In U.S. History
Trump repeated his campaign pledge to be strict on immigration limits and to launch the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, which would remove millions of immigrants.
An operation of that scale, however, would likely take years and be hugely costly.
(With inputs from Reuters)
