• Pope Leo XIV asks U.S. bishops to address Trump's immigration policies.
• Letters from immigrant families highlight fears of deportation.
• The Pope asserts the need for dignity and pro-life considerations.

Pope Leo XIV met with U.S. bishops on Wednesday, urging them to speak openly about the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies. The meeting occurred at the Vatican, where El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz presented the pope with letters from terrified immigrant families facing deportation fears. According to Seitz, Leo expressed deep concern about these issues and hoped that the U.S. Bishops’ Conference would address them strongly, as stated by Reuters.

The letters delivered to the pope detail the impact of recent immigration enforcement tactics, which have included aggressive raids that have sparked fear within immigrant communities. Seitz highlighted that many individuals, including legal migrants, are "terrorized" by the threat of being rounded up and deported. This situation has drawn condemnation from Catholic leaders in the U.S., who emphasize the Gospel message of caring for the vulnerable, as reported by Los Angeles Times and CBS News.

During the meeting, Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the bishops for their commitment to immigrant populations, emphasizing that the bishops should advocate for them. He reinforced this message by questioning the consistency of holding pro-life views while supporting what he described as "inhuman treatment" of immigrants. This viewpoint was echoed by various church leaders, who denounce the administration's policies as contrary to the teachings of dignity inherent in all people, according to The Hill and CBS News.

Seitz noted that many families are so fearful that they avoid going out for daily activities such as shopping or attending church. He emphasized that these policies create long-term impacts on the mental and emotional well-being of these families. The correspondence underscores a broader fear prevalent within communities affected by the immigration crackdown, as highlighted in the letters shared with Pope Leo, reflecting the dire situation that even legal migrants face today, as reported by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.