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Pope Leo defends US immigrant history at 250th anniversary
dw.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV praised the United States as a nation built by successive waves of immigrants, highlighting America’s global reputation as a symbol of freedom during an event ahead of the country's 250th Independence Day anniversary.
- Speaking via video from the Vatican, Leo emphasized the moral responsibility of the nation to protect vulnerable populations, while also reaffirming the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion and euthanasia.
- Leo received the annual Liberty Medal for his courage and leadership in promoting freedom, though he did not directly mention President Donald Trump in his remarks.
- The pope's message contrasts with Trump’s immigration policies, including mass deportations and visa suspensions, and comes amid an ongoing feud where Trump has criticized Leo as "weak" and disagreed with his stance on foreign policy issues.
- Despite past tensions with Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, Trump later praised Francis after his death in 2025 and attended his funeral.
