• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during a meeting at the Vatican Aug. 23, 2025, with refugees and their descendants who were exiled from the Chagos Islands to clear the way for the establishment of a major U.S. and U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope defends rights of refugees evicted to build U.S. military base

August 25, 2025
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV blessed five statues of Mary that refugees evicted from their islands in order to build a major U.S. military base plan to place in the chapels they hope to restore when they return to their homelands.

“The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and carries symbolic power on the international stage: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and their rights — especially the right to live in their own lands; and no one can force them into exile,” the pope told the Chagos Islands’ refugee group Aug. 23.

Between 1967 and 1973, the United Kingdom evicted residents of these islands in the Indian Ocean to allow the United States to build a major military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

In May, Britain and Mauritius signed an agreement returning sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but giving Britain and the United States a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base. The parliaments of Britain and Mauritius must approve the agreement before the residents who were evicted and their descendants can return.

Pope Leo told the small delegation from the Chagos Refugees Group that he knows “these years of exile have caused much suffering among you. You have experienced poverty, contempt and exclusion.”

Calling the forced eviction “a grave injustice,” the pope thanked all those involved who, “by opening their hearts, have understood the suffering of your people and have reached this agreement.”

Pope Leo also paid tribute to “the determination of the Chagossian people, and in particular to that of the women, in peacefully asserting their rights.”

“As you look toward a better future, may the Lord heal your wounds and grant you the grace to forgive those who have wronged you,” the pope said.

Read More Vatican News

Vatican secretary of state prioritized dialogue during Denmark visit, archbishop says

Scripture is intended to speak to believers ‘in every age,’ pope says

Pope adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar

Irish abuse survivor praises Pope Leo’s ’empathy,’ apology after private audience

Pope praises religious for courageous witness serving the marginalized

Happiness cannot be bought, hoarded, only shared with others, pope says

Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Maryvale roars past Mercy for second straight ‘Classic’ triumph

  • Deacon Lee Benson, who ministered in Harford County, dies at 73

  • Archbishop Lori joins local clergy decrying violence connected to immigration enforcement

  • Traditionalist society to consecrate new bishops in July without papal mandate

  • What is the feast of the Presentation?

| Latest Local News |

New vision ahead for pastoral councils 

Sister Joan Elias, leader in Catholic education, dies at 94

Speaker and musician Nick De La Torre to lead pre-Lenten mission in Frederick County

Deacon Lee Benson, who ministered in Harford County, dies at 73

Loyola University offers teens a mission-driven approach at business camp

| Latest World News |

Shevchuk: Faith endures as Ukraine’s source of hope as full-scale war marks 4th anniversary

Arlington celebrates first ‘harvest’ from its Hispanic diocesan diaconate program

U.S. solicitor general says Colorado should not deny Catholic preschools early education funds

House hearing examines rising global religious freedom threats, policy challenges

These Olympic athletes are leaning on faith going into the Winter Games

| Catholic Review Radio |

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • AI literacy: A digital examen for the soul
  • Shevchuk: Faith endures as Ukraine’s source of hope as full-scale war marks 4th anniversary
  • Arlington celebrates first ‘harvest’ from its Hispanic diocesan diaconate program
  • U.S. solicitor general says Colorado should not deny Catholic preschools early education funds
  • House hearing examines rising global religious freedom threats, policy challenges
  • Silence in place of homily at daily Mass
  • New vision ahead for pastoral councils 
  • These Olympic athletes are leaning on faith going into the Winter Games
  • Amid U.S. foreign aid cuts, bishops call for solidarity between American, African Catholics

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED