Pope Francis and the Call to Prophetic Witness: A Christian Response to Immigration

In recent years, some have argued that Pope Francis should stay out of politics, particularly when it comes to the American immigration crisis. 

Recently, President Trump's U.S. "border czar" Tom Homan lashed out at Pope Francis after the leader of the Catholic Church strongly criticized the mass deportation of migrants that Mr. Trump has initiated in his second term.

When asked Tuesday by a Fox News reporter to comment on the pope's "harsh words," Homan replied: "I've got harsh words for the pope: I say this as a lifelong Catholic. He ought to focus on his work and leave enforcement to us. He's got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?"

Yet, such critiques fail to grasp the Pope's fundamental role, not only as the leader of the Catholic Church but as a baptized Christian who, like all of us, shares in the mission of Christ as priest, prophet, and king. His words and actions in addressing the plight of migrants and refugees are not political activism but a living witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are all called to follow his example.

The Prophetic Role of Every Christian

By virtue of our baptism, we are anointed to share in Christ's threefold mission: priest, prophet, and king. The prophetic role, in particular, requires us to speak truth to power, to stand with the marginalized, and to call the world back to the ways of justice, mercy, and love. The Old Testament prophets did not remain silent in the face of injustice. Neither did Jesus, who himself was an immigrant when his family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod's violence.

When Pope Francis speaks about the dignity of migrants and the moral obligation to welcome the stranger, he is not making a political statement but fulfilling this prophetic mission. He reminds us that, as Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

Immigration: A Moral, Not Political, Issue

Immigration is not merely a policy debate; it is a profoundly moral issue. The people crossing borders are not abstract statistics but human beings created in the image and likeness of God. They are mothers, fathers, and children fleeing violence, poverty, and persecution in search of safety and a better life.

Pope Francis' advocacy for migrants and refugees flows directly from Catholic Social Teaching, which upholds the dignity of every human person and calls for solidarity with the oppressed. His calls to "build bridges, not walls" echo the biblical mandate to "welcome the stranger" (Leviticus 19:34). This is not partisan politics; it is Gospel truth.

A Call to Action for All Christians

As followers of Christ, we cannot remain indifferent. To be baptized is to be commissioned as prophets who stand up for the vulnerable, even when it is unpopular or uncomfortable. Pope Francis is not overstepping his bounds; he is modeling the courage we should all emulate.

We, too, must raise our voices in defense of those who have none. We must pray for migrants and refugees, support policies that respect human dignity, and challenge rhetoric that dehumanizes our brothers and sisters in need. Our faith does not permit us to turn away from suffering or to hide behind walls of fear or indifference.

In the end, the immigration crisis is not just a test of political will but a test of moral conviction. Pope Francis has chosen to pass that test by living out his prophetic vocation with courage and compassion. Let us do the same, confident that in serving the least among us, we serve Christ himself.