Pope Leo XIV says immigrants are treated ‘worse than pets’

Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists on board the papal flight from Malabo to Rome, on April 23, 2026, after an 11-day pastoral visit to Africa Andrew Medichini/Pool via Reuters Pope Leo ✅ Follow g1’s international news channel on WhatsApp Leão, who has been a critic of US President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, called for humane treatment of immigrants during his flight back to Rome after a four-country tour in Africa. “They are human beings and we have to treat human beings humanely and no worse… than pets or animals,” the pope told reporters. Pope Leo XVI visits prison reported for abuse in Africa The first North American pope, Leo did not specifically mention a country in his comments this Thursday. The pope had previously questioned whether the Trump administration’s policies were in line with the Catholic Church’s pro-life teachings, in comments that drew sharp criticism from conservative U.S. Catholics. Leão also said this Thursday that countries have the right to control their borders and asked richer nations to help develop the countries from which migrants leave, so that they do not feel the need to leave. “What are the richest countries doing to change the situation in the poorest countries?” he asked. “And why can’t we seek to…change the situation in those countries?” Also during his flight back to Rome, the pontiff said he does not intend to go beyond the measures adopted by Francis on blessings for same-sex couples.

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