Pope Francis criticized possible plans for mass deportations in the United States under President-elect Donald Trump during a wide-ranging interview on Italian television on Sunday, January 19.
“If this is true, it is a disgrace because it makes the poor unfortunates who have nothing pay the price of the imbalance. “Things are not resolved that way,” the Pope said in the program.What’s the weather like?” on the Italian network Nove, referring to plans to deport immigrants who are in the United States illegally.
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The US bishops said in November that they would speak out strongly if President Trump moves forward with this proposal in a way that undermines human dignity.
It is estimated that there are 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to July 2023 statistics from the Center for Migration Studies.
The Pope announces a woman as president of the Vatican
The Holy Father also announced that Sister Raffaella Petrini will be the first female president of the Governorate of Vatican City State starting in March, elevating her from her current position as Secretary General.
“The work of women in the Curia has progressed slowly, but effectively. Now, we have many,” Pope Francis said during the televised conversation.
Sister Petrini’s appointment will come into effect following the retirement of Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga from his current position as President of the Governorate. “Women manage better than us,” she said.
This appointment follows that of Sister Simona Brambilla as prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life.
Call for peace and hope of the Jubilee
The Holy Father also addressed the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel during the interview. “War is always a defeat,” the pontiff proclaimed, underscoring the vital importance of negotiations and peace-building efforts.
Reflecting on the current Jubilee Year, Pope Francis stressed that pilgrimages to the Holy Door of Rome must be made with a genuine religious purpose: “If you come to Rome and visit the Holy Door as a tourist, without a religious purpose, it is of no use. ”.
The interview marked the Pope’s third appearance on the program.
Originally published in CNA. Translated and adapted by ACI Prensa.
Anian Christoph Wimmer
Anian Christoph Wimmer, a multilingual Australian with Bavarian roots, is the editor-in-chief of CNA Deutsch. He held senior positions at Australia’s SBS and was editor-in-chief of the historic Münchner Kirchenzeitung. Graduated in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, Anian Christoph Wimmer was on the jury for the Catholic Media Award of the German Bishops’ Conference and was an honorary researcher in Communications at the University of Melbourne. He has served on the Board of Directors of Caritas in Munich.