Pope Leo XIV lit a firestorm with his words — and Karoline Leavitt wasted no time striking back.
On Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV openly attacked Donald Trump’s immigration policies. He said they exposed a contradiction in MAGA’s so-called “pro-life” stance. His sharp remarks spread quickly online and ignited heated debates.
Pope Leo declared: “Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life.” He added: “Someone who says that ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.” His words landed hard because they targeted MAGA’s core moral claim.
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The Spark: Durbin’s Award
Reporters asked Pope Leo about the Chicago Archdiocese’s decision to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime award. Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, has supported abortion rights and immigration reform for decades. He recently announced he would not run again after more than forty years in office. The award triggered controversy, and Pope Leo’s answer made waves far beyond Chicago.
Leavitt Strikes Back
The next day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hit back at the Pope’s comments. Leavitt, a proud Catholic who wears a cross and prays with her staff, defended Trump’s record.
“I reject the claim that this administration treated illegal immigrants inhumanely,” Leavitt said. She then pivoted and attacked President Joe Biden. “There was significant inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration,” she argued.
Leavitt raised the stakes, insisting migrants under Biden were “trafficked, raped, beaten, and in many cases killed.” A moment later, she flipped the focus again, warning about “inhumane treatment at the hands of some of these illegal immigrants.”
The Pope vs MAGA Leaders
This clash is not new. Earlier this year, before his election as Pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (now Leo XIV) criticized Vice President JD Vance.
Vance had claimed Christians must follow a strict “biblical hierarchy” in deciding who to love first. Cardinal Prevost wrote in the National Catholic Reporter: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” His statement made clear that Catholic teaching does not support political cherry-picking of scripture.
Faith, Politics, and Power Collide
Pope Leo continues to push Catholic leaders in America to align words with actions. He demands that “pro-life” extend beyond abortion into compassion for all vulnerable people, including immigrants.
Leavitt, meanwhile, rejects the charge. She shields MAGA’s record and shifts blame to Biden. As the debate rages, Catholics in the U.S. must ask themselves: What does “pro-life” truly mean?
