Pope Leo XIV issued a striking call on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its treatment of migrants detained at facilities across the United States, specifically highlighting restrictions on religious practices at a suburban Chicago detention center. Speaking to reporters outside the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, the Chicago-born pontiff addressed mounting concerns about the denial of basic spiritual rights to those held in immigration custody.
The Pope’s remarks came in direct response to questions about the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview, where federal authorities have repeatedly blocked local clergy from offering Holy Communion to detainees. Leo emphasized that authorities should allow pastoral workers to attend to those separated from their families, noting that their spiritual needs deserve consideration regardless of their immigration status.
In recent weeks, multiple attempts by Catholic clergy to bring Holy Communion to detainees at the Broadview facility have been rebuffed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. One delegation that included Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado of the Chicago Archdiocese attempted entry on Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, one of the holiest days in the Catholic calendar, but was denied access.
A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman previously told the Chicago Tribune that the Broadview facility could not accommodate visitors on short notice, citing safety concerns for visitors, detainees and staff, as well as ensuing riots. However, a federal judge in Chicago has called the Trump administration’s description of lawless protests outside Broadview “simply unreliable.”
The pontiff called for what he described as “deep reflection” about how the United States treats migrants in detention. He stated: “I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people. 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.”
Leo underlined that scripture emphasizes a fundamental question that will be posed at the end of the world, asking how individuals received and welcomed foreigners. The Pope suggested this requires serious contemplation about current policies affecting those who have lived in the country for years without causing problems but now find themselves deeply affected by enforcement actions.
The remarks represented a direct challenge to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices, coming from a pontiff who himself hails from Chicago and maintains close ties to the American Catholic community. His intervention adds significant moral weight to ongoing debates about the treatment of detained migrants and the balance between security concerns and humanitarian considerations.
During the same session with reporters at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo addressed a range of geopolitical concerns beyond immigration. He discussed U.S. military attacks on suspected drug traffickers off Venezuela, describing the military action as increasing tension and noting that operations were coming closer to the coastline. The pontiff emphasized the importance of seeking dialogue rather than military solutions.
On Middle East peace efforts, Leo acknowledged that the first phase of the peace accord between Israel and Hamas remains very fragile. He stressed the need for parties to find a way forward on future governance while guaranteeing rights for 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 while doing another.
The Vatican announced that Pope Leo will receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday. At the end of November, he will make his first trip as Pope to Turkey and Lebanon, continuing his engagement with complex geopolitical and humanitarian challenges facing the region.
The Pope’s intervention on behalf of detained migrants reflects his broader emphasis on welcoming vulnerable populations. Last month, Leo urged labor union leaders visiting from Chicago to advocate for immigrants and welcome minorities into their ranks, demonstrating his consistent focus on immigration issues affecting his hometown and the broader United States.
The situation at Broadview has drawn increasing attention from religious leaders and civil rights advocates who argue that denying access to religious services violates fundamental rights. Detainees at the facility have described conditions as prison-like, with overcrowding and sanitation concerns detailed in court proceedings examining the Trump administration’s detention practices.
The Pope’s call for deep reflection comes as immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue in American politics, with the Trump administration defending its approach as necessary for national security while critics argue it prioritizes enforcement over humanitarian concerns and constitutional protections.
