Pope Leo on Tuesday strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether or not they align with the Catholic Church’s “pro-life” teachings. Speaking exterior the papal summer time residence in Castel Gandolfo, close to Rome, the pontiff stated, “Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”Pope Leo XIV stated somebody who’s against abortion however in favor of the dying penalty is “not really pro-life.” The Catholic Church maintains that life is sacred from conception till pure dying, one in every of its core teachings. The White House defended Trump, saying the president was elected on guarantees that included mass deportations, a topic of intense political debate amongst Americans. “He is keeping his promise to the American people,” spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated in an announcement, reported The Guardian. Pope Leo, the primary American pope, who changed the late Pope Francis in May, has adopted a extra reserved strategy than his predecessor, who typically brazenly criticized the Trump administration. The pontiff additionally weighed in on an argument surrounding the Archdiocese of Chicago’s choice to provide a lifetime award to Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, a supporter of abortion rights. Conservative Catholics, together with a number of US bishops, had objected to the choice. “It is very important to look at the overall work that the senator has done,” Pope Leo instructed Reuters. “I understand the difficulty and the tensions but I think, as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the church. Someone who says I am against abortion but says I am in favour of the death penalty is not really pro-life.” The Chicago Archdiocese’s award announcement sparked quick backlash, with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield stating that Durbin was “unfit to receive the proposed award or any Catholic honor.” Following the controversy, Durbin reportedly declined the award, which was scheduled for 3 November, based on the State Journal-Register.