Pope Leo XIV has asked U.S. authorities to let Catholic priests and church workers visit migrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The pope made his comments on November 4 while speaking to reporters before leaving Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence near Rome.
Pope Leo Calls for Access to Spiritual Care in U.S. Detention Centers
Pope Leo said he was deeply concerned that officials had blocked priests and pastoral workers from bringing Communion and offering spiritual help to people in ICE detention centers. He referred to a recent case in Illinois, where officials denied entry to a group of Catholic clergy, religious sisters, laypeople, and an auxiliary bishop from Chicago at the Broadview Processing Center. Authorities had turned them away twice in three weeks.
Pope Leo reminded listeners that Christians must help those in need. Citing a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, he said, “Jesus clearly tells us that God will ask how we treated the foreigner — whether we welcomed them or not.” He emphasized that the Church must actively bring comfort and hope to people who feel isolated or suffer hardship.
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“The current situation has deeply affected many people who have lived peacefully for years,” the pope said. “Authorities should also respect their spiritual rights. I would certainly invite them to allow pastoral workers to attend to those needs.”
The pope’s message showed the Church’s growing concern about how U.S. officials treat migrants in detention centers, where overcrowding and limited access to services have persisted for months.
Record-High Detentions Under New Immigration Orders
The United States has seen a record surge in immigration detentions throughout 2025, following several executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump. These measures suspended most entries across the southern border, restricted asylum applications, and barred asylum-seekers from staying in the U.S. while their cases were reviewed.
Another order empowered state and local police to act as immigration agents and cut federal funding for “sanctuary cities” — places that limit cooperation with federal deportation efforts. The result has been widespread immigration raids, especially in cities like Chicago, leading to thousands of arrests, including cases of U.S. citizens mistakenly detained.
The crackdown has caused overcrowded ICE detention centers and sparked serious human rights concerns. Advocacy groups say detainees face poor living conditions and have limited access to legal and spiritual support.
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Speaking on the issue, Pope Leo XIV said many detainees remain separated from their families for long periods and face deep uncertainty about their future. “No one knows what’s happening,” he said. “But authorities should also attend to their spiritual needs.”
His remarks followed comments by Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, who said Trump administration officials assured him the issue of migrants’ religious access was “under careful review.” Bishop Barron, a member of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission, said he and Father Alexei Woltornist from the Department of Homeland Security’s advisory council had raised the Church’s concerns about detainees’ right to receive sacraments such as Communion and confession.
Pope Leo Addresses Global Conflicts and Church Scandal
During the same press conference, Pope Leo XIV addressed several global and Church-related issues, responding to reporters’ questions with concern and restraint.
Speaking about rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, he said he was deeply troubled by reports that the U.S. military carried out lethal strikes on Venezuelan civilian boats. Between September and October, U.S. officials authorized at least ten such strikes and deployed 10,000 troops to the region. “Violence never brings victory,” the pope said, urging dialogue and fair solutions to international disputes.
On the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Pope Leo noted that while the first phase of their October 10 peace agreement was still holding, the next phase should focus on governance and protecting the rights of all communities. He described the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “truly complex,” adding that “Israel said one thing, but sometimes it does another.”
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The pope also confirmed that the Vatican had begun a trial against former Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik, accused of sexually, psychologically, and spiritually abusing more than two dozen women. He said judges had been appointed and that due process must be respected. “It is very hard for victims to wait,” he said, “but justice must be fair to all.”
Addressing calls to remove Rupnik’s artwork, Pope Leo said many churches and the Vatican itself had already begun taking it down. He concluded by stressing compassion, justice, and dignity for all people.
