Pope Leo XIV issued a pointed message to the Trump administration on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, calling for “deep reflection” on the treatment of migrants held in U.S. detention facilities and urging authorities to respect the spiritual rights of detainees.
Speaking to reporters at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, the Chicago-born pontiff addressed mounting concerns over access to religious services at immigration detention centers, particularly the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. The Pope emphasized that migrants who have lived peacefully in the United States for years have been deeply affected by current enforcement policies.
“I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people,” Leo said. “Many times they’ve been separated from their families for a good amount of time; no one knows what’s happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to.”
The Pope’s remarks came in response to a direct question about the Broadview facility, where federal authorities have repeatedly denied local clergy permission to offer Holy Communion to detainees. Multiple Catholic priests attempted to bring the sacrament to migrants at the facility last month but were turned away by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Another delegation, which included Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado of the Chicago Archdiocese, made a similar attempt on November 1—All Saints’ Day, one of the holiest days in the Catholic calendar—but was also denied entry. A DHS spokeswoman previously told reporters that the facility could not accommodate visitors on short notice due to safety concerns and what the agency described as ensuing riots.
A federal judge in Chicago has since called the Trump administration’s characterization of lawless protests outside Broadview “simply unreliable.”
The Pope underscored that scripture emphasizes a fundamental question that will be posed at the end of the world: How did you receive the foreigner, and did you welcome him or not? He indicated that profound reflection is needed about current immigration enforcement practices.
Leo’s comments addressed broader geopolitical concerns during the question-and-answer session with reporters, including U.S. military actions against suspected drug traffickers off Venezuela and the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East. On the Venezuelan situation, the pontiff noted that military operations are increasing tension, with attacks coming closer to the coastline, and emphasized the importance of seeking dialogue.
Regarding the Middle East peace process, Leo acknowledged that the first phase of the accord between Israel and Hamas remains very fragile. He stressed that parties need to find pathways forward on future governance that guarantee the rights of all peoples. When asked about Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, the Pope described the settlement issue as complex, noting that Israel has sometimes said one thing and done another.
The Pope’s Tuesday remarks on immigration came on the same day the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a significant doctrinal note addressing Marian titles. The document, titled “Mater Populi Fidelis,” was approved by Pope Leo on October 7 and provides guidance on acceptable terminology for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The doctrinal note firmly rejected the use of “Co-Redemptrix” as a title for Mary, stating that it carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ in salvation. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented the document at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome on November 4, explaining that it becomes part of the church’s ordinary magisterium and must be considered authoritative.
The document addressed decades of requests from some Catholics, including bishops, for formal dogmatic declarations of Mary as co-redemptrix and co-mediatrix. Monsignor Armando Matteo, secretary of the dicastery’s doctrinal section, noted that Vatican studies of the doctrinal implications of these titles date back to 1926.
The note explained that when an expression requires frequent explanation to maintain correct meaning, it becomes unhelpful to the faithful. The document encouraged use of titles referring to Mary’s motherhood, including “Mother of God” and “Mother of the Faithful People of God,” while cautioning against terminology that could create confusion about Christ’s unique role as mediator and redeemer.
Pope Leo will receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Thursday. At the end of November, he will make his first trip as pope to Turkey and Lebanon, continuing his diplomatic engagement in regions affected by ongoing conflicts and humanitarian concerns.
