In a striking critique aired on CBS News’ “60 Minutes”, Pope Francis labelled the United States’ approach to immigrants at its southern border as “madness.”
The Pope expressed dismay at the border closures and the treatment of migrants, stating, “It’s madness, pure madness, closing the borders and leaving the migrants there. Immigrants should be welcomed.”
Pope Francis continued, discussing the necessity of handling each migrant case with a humane perspective, suggesting, “Perhaps you have to send the migrant back, I don’t know, but each case must be considered humanely.”
The Pope also condemned the Texas authorities’ decision to shut down a Catholic charity that provides humanitarian aid to newcomers.
This criticism comes at a time when many migrants, primarily from Central America and Venezuela, flee poverty and turmoil seeking refuge in the US each year.
Amidst the U.S. presidential election season, scheduled for November, immigration has surged as a pivotal issue, particularly highlighted by Republican candidate Donald Trump’s increasingly harsh rhetoric against immigrants and his pledge for mass deportations if he returns to the White House.
Pope Francis also described the “globalization of indifference” towards migrants as a “very ugly disease” and addressed the issue of sexual violence within the church, insisting on a policy of “zero tolerance” following several scandals.
He emphasized the severe legal consequences for clergy or nuns who abuse others, stating, “When a clergyman or a nun mistreats someone, the full force of the law comes down on them.”
