VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has called on U.S. bishops to uphold the dignity and rights of migrants in light of the United States’ ongoing mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants. In a letter published on February 11, the pope emphasized the importance of evaluating immigration laws and policies through the lens of human dignity rather than associating undocumented status with criminality.
While acknowledging a nation’s right to protect itself from individuals who have committed violent crimes, Pope Francis stressed that a “rightly formed conscience” would challenge the notion that all unauthorized migrants should be treated as criminals.
“The act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution, or serious deterioration of the environment damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness,” he wrote.
A Call for Justice and Human Dignity
Pope Francis’ message to U.S. bishops comes as the U.S. government, under President Donald Trump’s administration, continues to implement stringent immigration policies that have increased deportations. The pope praised the efforts of the U.S. bishops in supporting migrants and refugees, invoking God’s blessing for their advocacy on behalf of “those who are considered less valuable, less important, or less human.”
Urging Catholics and people of goodwill to critically assess public policies, he stated: “All the Christian faithful and people of goodwill are called upon to consider the legitimacy of norms and public policies in the light of the dignity of the person and his or her fundamental rights, not vice versa.”
The pontiff further prayed for the protection of migrants under the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and called for a more fraternal and inclusive society that respects the dignity of all people.
The Ethics of Immigration Policy
Pope Francis underlined that just governance does not exclude the development of orderly migration policies but emphasized that these must always prioritize human dignity, particularly for the most vulnerable.
“This is not a minor issue: An authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized,” he stressed. “The true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all, welcomes, protects, promotes, and integrates the most fragile, unprotected, and vulnerable.”
The pope warned that policies built on force rather than the truth of human dignity are doomed to fail, reinforcing his call for a just and compassionate approach to migration.
‘Ordo Amoris’ and the Love of Neighbor
Pope Francis also addressed the Catholic principle of ordo amoris—or “rightly ordered love”—in response to its use by Vice President JD Vance in debates over immigration policy.
“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” the pope wrote. “The human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings!”
Instead, he emphasized that human dignity is realized through relationships with others, particularly the most vulnerable, and called for an approach that mirrors the love of the Good Samaritan.
“The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception,” he stated.
Jesus the Refugee
Pope Francis also reminded the faithful that Jesus Himself experienced migration when the Holy Family fled to Egypt due to the threat of King Herod.
Quoting Pope Pius XII’s Exsul Familia Nazarethana, the pope recalled: “The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example, and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country.”
He concluded by affirming that Christ’s universal love teaches the importance of recognizing the dignity of every human being, regardless of status.
Sources: Catholic News Agency, Vatican News.
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