Pope told to 'stick to Church' after Trump migrant critique

Pope Francis on Tuesday condemned President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans, calling them a “major crisis” that strips migrants of their dignity and leaves them vulnerable.

In a letter to U.S. bishops, the pope urged the faithful to “not give in to narratives that discriminate” against migrants and refugees, warning that policies based on force rather than human dignity "begin badly and will end badly."

White House fires back

The Vatican’s remarks prompted a sharp response from the Trump administration.

Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, dismissed the pope’s criticism, saying: "I wish he'd stick to the Catholic Church and fix that, and leave border enforcement to us."

Homan also pointed out the walls surrounding the Vatican, asking: “He wants to attack us for securing our border? He’s got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?”

Pope warns of humanitarian consequences

Francis acknowledged a country’s right to defend its borders and protect communities from criminals but warned that mass deportations would harm countless families fleeing extreme poverty, violence, and persecution.

"Deporting people damages the dignity of many men and women," he wrote, stressing that an authentic rule of law is reflected in “the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized.”

A long-running feud

This is not the first time Francis has clashed with Trump over immigration. In 2016, Francis said "Anyone who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian", a direct criticism of Trump’s proposed border wall.

In 2023, he denounced “madness” in harsh anti-migrant rhetoric, singling out right-wing U.S. Catholic figures for extreme views.

Despite their ideological differences, Trump met Francis at the Vatican in May 2017 during his first term. With mass deportations back at the center of U.S. policy, their divide appears wider than ever.