President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said he would welcome a discussion with Pope Leo XIV amid an ongoing dispute between the administration and the Vatican over immigration policy.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Homan, who described himself as a lifelong Catholic, said he wishes the Vatican would stay out of immigration policy because Vatican leaders 'don't know what they're talking about.' He argued the pope's opinion would change if he understood that illegal immigration is not a victimless crime.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump administration officials have defended the border security approach as life-saving. Homan emphasized that President Trump 'had the most secure border in the lifetime of this nation' and lives are being saved because of the current enforcement priorities.
Vice President JD Vance, who has visited the Vatican twice as vice president and converted to Catholicism, suggested the Holy See should stick to matters of morality rather than American public policy. He called the disagreement a 'reasonable' part of the relationship.
Trump criticized Pope Leo on Truth Social, calling him 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy.' He urged the pope to use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great pope rather than a politician.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics and some Catholic Democrats have aligned with Pope Leo's criticism of the administration's interior immigration enforcement tactics. The pope has said that when people have lived good lives for 10, 15, or 20 years, treating them in an extremely disrespectful manner is concerning, particularly when there has been some violence.
Bishop Barron, a prominent Catholic voice, said Trump 'owes the pope an apology.' The pope has emphasized that he is not attacking anyone but speaking out on moral issues, saying the message of the Gospel should not be abused.
Pope Leo has stated that no one has said the United States should have open borders and that every country has a right to determine who enters and how. However, he has been critical of enforcement methods that involve violence or extreme disrespect toward long-term residents.
What the Numbers Show
The Trump administration has emphasized that its border security policies have resulted in reduced human trafficking and cartel activity. Homan stated that human traffickers are 'out of business' and cartels are 'going bankrupt' because of the secure border.
Pope Leo has acknowledged that countries have a right to control their borders, while also emphasizing the humanitarian dimensions of migration. He has called for dialogue and multilateral relationships among states to find just solutions to problems.
The Bottom Line
The dispute between the Trump administration and Vatican leadership reflects broader tensions over immigration enforcement, with both sides claiming moral authority. Homan has invited discussion with Vatican leaders, arguing they would change their position if they witnessed the conditions at the border firsthand. The pope has said he has 'no fear of the Trump administration' and will continue speaking out on issues of war, peace, and human dignity.