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By Staff Reporter
A growing disagreement between Pope Leo XIV and the United States government over immigration policy is exposing deep divisions within the Catholic Church and American politics.
Jesse Romero, a conservative Catholic podcaster and outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, has publicly criticised the Pope’s stance on immigration.
“What the Pope should be telling us is how to get into Heaven,” Romero said. “He has no authority over government. He should stay in his lane.”
Romero’s comments reflect the anger among some conservative Catholics following repeated criticism of U.S. immigration policies by Pope Leo XIV, who was born in the United States, and by senior Catholic leaders nationwide.
Catholics and Political Influence
About one in five Americans is Catholic, giving the Church considerable influence in both public life and politics.
Several prominent Catholics played major roles in Trump’s political rise, including Vice President JD Vance and conservative activist Leonard Leo. Others now hold key government positions, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Despite this influence, immigration has become a major source of tension—between the Church and the government, and among Catholics themselves.
A Different Kind of Pope
Ahead of the papal election in May, Romero said he hoped for a “Trump-style Pope” whose views would closely align with those of the former president.
Instead, Pope Leo XIV has consistently expressed concern about the treatment of migrants in the U.S. In November, he called for a “deep re-examination” of immigration practices.
Quoting the Gospel of Matthew, the Pope said:
“Jesus made it clear that at the end of the world, we will be asked: ‘How did you welcome the stranger?’”
Rare Statement from U.S. Bishops
One week later, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued an unusually strong statement expressing “deep concern” over the conditions faced by migrants in America.
The bishops warned of a “climate of fear and anxiety,” rejected mass deportations without due process, and called for an end to what they described as the “dehumanization and abuse” of migrants.
The statement—described as the most significant of its kind in decades—received public backing from Pope Leo XIV, who urged Catholics to reflect seriously on its message.
Relations ‘Extremely Strained’
“I think the relationship has become extremely strained,” said David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University.
Gibson noted that many conservatives had hoped Pope Leo would move away from the approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who prioritised social justice and migrant protection.
“Many are angry and want the Church to limit itself to issues like abortion,” Gibson said.
White House border policy chief Tom Homan, also a Catholic, accused the Church of being “wrong” and urged its leaders to focus on internal matters instead.
In October, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the Pope’s suggestion that U.S. immigration policies violate human rights.
Catholic Voters and Political Calculations
According to Gibson, the administration believes it can afford a clash with the Pope because a large number of Catholics—especially white Catholics—support Republican policies.
A recent survey found that nearly 60% of white Catholics approve of Trump’s immigration approach.
Vice President JD Vance has emerged as a symbol of the growing political influence of conservative Catholics, saying his faith shapes his politics. While he maintains that current policies do not conflict with Church teachings, he has acknowledged that undocumented migrants “are still human beings.”
Voices of Dissent Within the Church
Many Catholics disagree strongly with the government’s stance.
In Chicago, where immigration enforcement has been intensified, parishioner Jeanne Rattenbury joined a religious gathering of around 2,000 people outside a migrant detention centre in November.
“I’m proud to be Catholic when our Church—from the Pope to our bishops—stands up for the dignity of migrants,” she said.
Near Boston, a Catholic church replaced an image of Jesus with a sign reading: “Immigration authorities were here,” declaring that Jesus himself was a refugee. Although local residents complained and the archbishop ordered its removal, the sign remains.
‘Contrary to Church Teaching’
Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, was among 216 bishops who supported the USCCB statement. Only five opposed it, while three abstained.
“There is a clear difference between how the Church and the current government view migrants,” Bishop Tyson said. “We see the good in them.”
He stressed that neither he nor the Pope supports open borders but criticised deportations carried out without due process or a focus on serious criminal activity.
Bishop Tyson estimated that at least half the families in his diocese include someone facing immigration difficulties, noting that even some priests are migrants.
“People live in constant fear, always carrying their documents,” he said, adding that current U.S. practices contradict Catholic teaching.
Conservatives Push Back
Romero rejects that view, arguing that Catholic doctrine requires migrants to obey the law.
“Many Catholic leaders in the U.S. interpret Church teaching through a modern, progressive lens,” he said.
While acknowledging the Pope and bishops as religious authorities, Romero added:
“That doesn’t mean everything they say is automatically right. They are human too.”
Summary:
As immigration continues to divide American politics, it is also deepening rifts within the Catholic Church—pitting conservative believers and political leaders against Pope Leo XIV and much of the Church’s hierarchy, with no clear resolution in sight.
