Pope says Trump's policies 'extremely disrespectful' to US immigrants

Pope Leo has reiterated disapproval of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, saying foreigners in the US are being treated in an “extremely disrespectful way”.

- Angela Giuffrida

Leo, the first American pontiff in the history of the Catholic church, made the remarks in response to questions about a statement adopted last week during a special assembly of US bishops that criticised the Trump administration’s mass deportations and lamented the fear and anxiety caused by immigration raids.

Leo said the statement was “very important” and urged Catholics to take heed.

“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” he told reporters as he left the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, a hilltop town south of Rome, on Tuesday.

“If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts; there’s a system of justice.”