Pope Leo decries migrants being treated ‘worse than house pets’
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Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal flight from Malabo to Rome, on April 23.
PHOTO: AFP
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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT - Pope Leo on April 23 decried the world’s treatment of immigrants, saying that often migrants and refugees seeking to escape violence or poverty are considered “worse than house pets or animals”, in unusually strong remarks on the issue.
Pope Leo, who has been a critic of US President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, called for humane treatment of immigrants while on his flight back to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.
“They are human beings and we have to treat human beings in a humanitarian way and not treat them worse … than house pets or animals,” the Pope said in a press conference.
Pope Leo, the first US pope, did not mention any specific country in his remarks on April 23.
He has previously questioned whether the Trump administration’s hardline policies are in line with the Catholic Church’s strict pro-life teachings, in remarks that drew sharp criticism from conservative US Catholics.
Pope Leo said on April 23 that countries have a right to control their borders. He urged richer nations to help develop the countries that migrants are leaving, so they do not feel the need to leave.
“What are richer countries doing to change the situation for poorer countries?” he asked. “And why can’t we seek… to change the situations in (those) countries?” REUTERS
