The White House on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump’s strict migration stance after US born Pope Leo XIV criticized the “inhuman” treatment of migrants in the country.
“Someone who says, I’m against abortion, but I support the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro life,” Pope Leo told reporters on Tuesday.
The first American born head of the Catholic Church further argued that being anti-abortion while backing the death penalty, which is still legal in several US states,was also “not really pro life.”
Chicago-native Leo, who was appointed pope in May following the death of Pope Francis, made the remarks during a briefing with journalists at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
When asked for a response on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, herself a Catholic, dismissed the pope’s criticisms.
