VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo on Tuesday issued his strongest rebuke yet of U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, questioning whether they align with the Catholic Church’s pro-life teachings.
“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” the pontiff told journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo.
The Catholic Church maintains that life is sacred from conception until natural death, one of its most fundamental teachings for its 1.4 billion members worldwide.
Leo, the first American-born pope, was responding to a question from a U.S. journalist regarding current U.S. politics.
In response, the White House defended Trump’s policies. “He is keeping his promise to the American people,” spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, emphasizing that the president was elected partly on his pledge to deport criminal illegal aliens.
Leo, elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, has generally adopted a more reserved public style than his predecessor, who often clashed with the Trump administration.
During the exchange, the pontiff was also asked about the Chicago archdiocese’s decision to grant an award to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, a move criticized by conservative Catholics, including several U.S. bishops.
“It is very important to look at the overall work that the Senator has done,” Leo said. “I understand the difficulty and the tensions but I think, as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the Church.”
The pope further broadened his remarks on the pro-life debate, stating: “Someone who says I am against abortion but says I am in favour of the death penalty is not really pro-life.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
