In his first book interview since his election, Pope Leo addressed how he, as the first Successor of Peter to have been born in the United States, could engage with the US government. He indicated that his main strategy would be to "engage with the bishops primarily" and then, "for the leadership in the Church within the United States to engage" with the government more directly.
This week, the Pope put those ideas into practice, specifically on the hot button issue of immigration.
Tuesdays with the press
First off, as Tuesdays are now routinely a day for a mini press conference as Leo leaves Castel Gandolfo, reporters had a chance to ask him on October 7 about US President Donald Trump's plans to send the National Guard to Leo's hometown of Chicago. Leo quickly replied to the reporter, saying,
“I prefer not to comment at this time about choices made, political choices within the United States."
But the Tuesday before, October 1, he had said more, albeit in light of general Catholic principles on the dignity of life.
"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.”
See a video with his full comments (given in English) at this link.
October 5 Jubilee of Migrants
The weekend brought a unique juxtaposition of events as the Jubilee of Migrants and the Jubilee of Missionaries happened simultaneously. While this event focused on the global issue of migration, and not specific US elements, the Holy Father spoke both of deserts and oceans as being crossed.
To migrants in his homily, the Pope said: "Know that you are always welcome!"
Full homily below:
October 7 meeting with National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry
Pope Leo XIV addressed about 100 representatives and leaders of Hispanic ministry in the United States, including pilgrims from more than 50 dioceses, on the evening of October 7. Elisabeth Román, president of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, led the group. The Pope gave an unscripted greeting in Spanish.
He told them:
"You have a very important task in your hands, which is to accompany people who truly need, deeply, a sign that God never abandons anyone, not even the smallest, the poorest, the foreigner, anyone."
October 8 meeting with Hope Border Institute
On Wednesday, October 8, the Holy Father had a private audience with people associated with the Hope Border Institute. This group does work at the Mexico-US border.
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, was there. So was Dylan Corbett, founding executive director of the Institute.
Both of them, and others, later spoke on social media and in interviews about their meeting with the Pope.
Bishop Seitz sat down with Crux to talk more about the meeting and the immigration issue. He gave some context for the "you stand with me" comment, explaining how the Pope had arrived late to the meeting and organizers had said it would be rushed. Despite this, Leo took time to greet each one and watch a four-minute video they had prepared for him.
At one point in the meeting – toward the beginning – when it became clear he would stay with us for a few minutes, the Pope said, “I’m sorry we can’t sit down.” And I said, “Well, we’re very happy to stand with you, Holy Father.” And later on in the meeting, he said, “I will stand with you.”
Regarding the Pope's support, the bishop said, "We know that what we’re doing is a Gospel imperative, but it’s always nice to have the reassurance, you know, and what greater reassurance could we have than from the Vicar of Christ?"
Read that whole interview here.
October 9 meeting with labor leaders from Chicago
The next day, Pope Leo was able to address the Chicago situation more specifically, when he met with a group of leaders in the field of labor and employment from his hometown. To them, he said:
Above all, please know of my appreciation for your welcome of immigrants and refugees, especially your support of food pantries and shelters. While recognizing that appropriate policies are necessary to keep communities safe, I encourage you to continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable.
October 9 meeting with Catholic Charities USA
That same day, the Pope addressed the Church's charity network in the United States, which brings together 168 diocesan Catholic Charities agencies. He focused his comments on the work the groups do for migrants, particularly noting how migrants themselves can have a role as missionaries of hope.
Many of those whom you serve are among the most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees.
As they are not able to rely on their own resources and have to depend on God and the goodness of others, in many ways your ministry makes the Lord’s providence concrete for them. [...]
It might be said that through assisting displaced persons to find their new homes in your country, you also act as bridge builders between nations, cultures and peoples. I encourage you, then, to continue helping the communities who receive these newly arrived brothers and sisters to be living witnesses of hope, recognizing that they have an intrinsic human dignity and are invited to participate fully in community life
Dilexi Te
And also on October 9, the Pope's first document was released. As it is focused on the Church's 2,000-year history of care for the poor, it also speaks of migrants:
There is a three-paragraph section specifically dedicated to the issue, starting with Abraham being called to leave his land in the Old Testament.
The Pope concludes:
The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. She knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.
Update:
October 10 meeting with US bishops' leadership
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, current president of the US bishops conference, and members of the leadership team were received in audience on Friday morning by Pope Leo XIV.
The archbishop commented on having an American pope: “The refrain that ‘they don’t understand us over here’ doesn’t fit anymore, because he certainly does understand us.”
The bishops discussed key pastoral concerns, including migration and the transmission of the Gospel: “We talked about the challenges we face when people align themselves more quickly with political positions than with the message of the Gospel,” Archbishop Broglio later said to Vatican News.
Read the full interview here.
