Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, offers his perspective on the Pope’s decision to send a recent letter to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) regarding U.S. immigration policies. In his February 16 interview with The Good Newsroom while he was in New York, he provides insight into the Pope’s motivations for addressing this issue and reaffirms the Church’s commitment to assisting immigrants during this critical period.
“The Pope has seen that the bishops of the United States have always been very much involved with immigrants,” Cardinal Pierre explained. He noted that immigration is a global issue, driven by economic disparity, persecution, and poverty. “It has always existed, but it exists a lot today,” he said, emphasizing the growing scale of immigration across continents in the past 30 to 40 years.
Cardinal Pierre underscored that the Catholic Church’s role has consistently been one of service and compassion, modeled after the Good Samaritan. “We are there to help,” he said. However, he acknowledged that the Church does not have the power to dictate political decisions on immigration policy. Instead, it seeks to offer humanitarian aid and moral guidance. “Lately, there has been the announcement of huge expulsions of people. The Pope heard the cry of the bishops and wanted to encourage them,” he explained. “The Pope is on the side of the bishops and on the side of the poor.”
Vice President JD Vance has defended the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on theological grounds, an argument that the Pope appeared to directly challenge in his letter to the USCCB. Cardinal Pierre addressed this aspect, emphasizing that the Church’s approach to immigration is rooted in the Gospel’s call to welcome the stranger and uphold human dignity.
When asked about the complexities of a Catholic vice president holding policy positions that may not align with Church teachings, Cardinal Pierre remarked, “Politicians are human beings. They belong to various religions. It’s not the first time that a president or vice president is Catholic.” He acknowledged the longstanding tensions between political leadership and Catholic doctrine, particularly on issues like abortion and pro-life issues, but reiterated the Church’s dedication to dialogue and advocacy for human dignity.
When asked whether the Pope’s letter to the USCCB was historic, Cardinal Pierre reflected on its significance. “Maybe you are right,” he conceded, while emphasizing that the Church’s mission remains the same: to uphold human dignity and provide pastoral care. “We are not against the law, we are not against society, but on the other hand, I think that all political decisions should be done with the respect of the human being.”
Cardinal Pierre’s remarks highlight the Vatican’s continued concern over immigration issues and the Church’s mission to uphold the dignity of all individuals. As immigration remains a pressing issue, the USCCB and Catholic organizations across the country continue their efforts to provide aid and support to those in need, in alignment with the Pope’s message of compassion and solidarity.