Pope Francis criticized President Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy, calling the border separations “immoral” and “contrary to our Catholic values,” according to a Wednesday Reuters report.
“It’s not easy, but populism is not the solution,” he said of immigration. He added that he sided with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about Trump’s policy, a leading body of church leaders which sent out a missive condemning the zero-tolerance practice for putting battered women at risk and rending families asunder.
Pope Francis had the same message for Trumpian sentiment washing over Europe and ushering in an era of nationalism and isolationism. He told Reuters that populists were “creating psychosis” on the topic of immigration and that much of Europe is in “a great demographic winter” desperately in need of more immigrants. Without them, the continent “will become empty,” he added.
“I believe that you cannot reject people who arrive,” he told Reuters. “Some governments are working on it, and people have to be settled in the best possible way, but creating psychosis is not the cure. Populism does not resolve things. What resolves things is acceptance, study, prudence.”
Pope Francis took issue with other Trump administration moves as well. He told Reuters that he was saddened by Trump’s move to restrict Americans’ access to Cuba, saying that former President Barack Obama’s opening of the island “was a good step forward.” He also said that Trump’s pulling out of the Paris Agreement caused him “a bit of pain” because “the future of humanity is at stake.”
Have fun in hell, Trump supporters. It will only seem like an eternity.
This just went nuclear. And not a moment too soon.
So the pope is trying to make a start… but it is going to take a lot more than this to move us back into John XXIII territory (IMO the last decent pope)
Cannot wait to see how the Fox News will now trash the Pope.
As the Pope is from Argentina, no doubt the right wing will point out that the Pope only sympathizes with these children because he is also from Mexico.
I mean, how can the Pope compete with their Cheeto Jesus?
Well, the Catholic Church has enabled, condoned, and covered-up child sexual abuse by its male priests for decades.
And they are still denying and fighting the victims.