Pope Gets a Lesson on Immigration From a Trump Ally

A Chicago‑born former Trump aide, Tom Homan, recently told Pope Leo XIV that the Catholic Church should back law enforcement in immigration matters. He criticized the pope for speaking out against Trump’s mass deportation plan, claiming Leo failed to understand church teachings. Homan said the pope should focus on fixing his own church instead of commenting on U. S. policy. He also listed grim statistics about crimes against migrant women, trafficking and drug deaths to support his point that the Vatican’s “wall” would be harder to breach than U. S. borders.This isn’t the first time a Trump supporter has tried to influence the pope. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Southern Baptist, offered biblical arguments to Leo after the pope urged deeper reflection on how America treats migrants. Johnson’s comments were later expanded into a long post on X. The exchanges highlight the tension between U. S. political leaders and the Vatican over immigration policy, with each side presenting their own moral and legal justifications. The pope’s remarks call for a compassionate response, while Trump allies push for stricter enforcement.