Pope calls Trump’s plans to deport immigrants shameful - AP
Pope Francis has sharply criticized the intentions of US President-elect Donald Trump, which include large-scale deportations of immigrants.
He said this in the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa, Censor.NET reports citing AP.
"If this is true, it will be a disgrace... this is not the way to solve problems. This is not the way to solve problems," Pope Francis said.
Trump, whose inauguration took place today, January 20, promised to sign executive orders on his first day in office that would dramatically change US immigration policy. They include the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants, including families with children.
Trump's proposals also drew criticism from American Catholic leaders. Cardinal Robert McElroy, the Archbishop of Washington, called the policy "incompatible with the foundations of Catholic doctrine."
Pope Francis, who grew up in a family of Italian immigrants in Argentina, has long emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of migrants. He calls on governments to be compassionate and integrate, emphasizing that human dignity must come before national interests.
According to AP, this is not the first time the pontiff has criticized Trump. In 2016, the Pope called him "not a Christian" because of his proposal to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Francis emphasized that such a policy contradicts the gospel values of love and mercy.
Today, on January 20, during a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., President-elect Donald Trump said that he would impose severe restrictions on immigration on his first day in office.
