ROME (AP) — Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a “disgrace,” as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling him “not Christian” for wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Pope Francis offered President Trump his congratulations on returning to the White House, but called his plan to deport millions of immigrants from the U.S. a "disgrace." Why it matters: American Catholics strongly supported Trump in the 2024 election.

Vásquez was most recently selected by Francis to oversee the Diocese of Tyler, also in Texas, after he dismissed its former bishop, Joseph Strickland, who had openly accused the pope of being a heretic and called into question the validity of his leadership.

If this is true it is a disgrace because it makes the poor unfortunate who have nothing pay the price of imbalance. This is not how things are solved,” the pope said on Italian TV.

"If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing to pay the unpaid bill," Francis said.

Pope Francis sent “cordial greetings” and “assurance of my prayers” to Donald J. Trump on Jan. 20, the day of his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States.

The pontiff, who frequently expresses sympathy for migrants and refugees, criticises raids which are set to begin this week

Pope Francis has condemned President-elect Donald Trump ’s calls for mass deportations in the U.S. The Catholic Church ’s leader called Trump’s plans a “disgrace” in a Sunday interview on the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa, a show by Banijay Italia’s L’Officina.

The comments provided the latest indication of a potential renewal of friction between the Vatican and the next Trump White House.

Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a “disgrace,” as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling

After the pope criticized Trump's deportation plans, MAGA figures have suggested deporting illegal migrants to Vatican City.