• 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
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services arrives to concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis for the Jubilee of the Armed Services, Police and Security Personnel in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 9, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

U.S. bishops thank Pope Francis for support amid ‘struggle’ on migration issues

February 13, 2025
By Kate Scanlon
OSV News
Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Feb. 11 thanked Pope Francis for his support for the U.S. bishops’ work with migrants and refugees amid the current “struggle” on immigration policies in the U.S.

“I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all,” wrote Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.

Archbishop Broglio added, “As we struggle to continue our care for the needy in our midst and the desire to improve the situation in those places from which immigrants come to our shores, we are ever mindful that in them we see the Face of Christ.”

The sculpture “Angels Unawares” is seen at The Catholic University of America in Washington April 22, 2022. (OSV News/CNS file, Andrew Biraj, Catholic Standard)

Earlier the same day, Pope Francis released a letter to the U.S. bishops, Catholics and all people of goodwill urging them not to give in to “narratives” that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to migrants and refugees.

While acknowledging “the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival,” Pope Francis cautioned “deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.”

As a part of its effort to enforce its hardline immigration policies, the Trump administration suspended a federal refugee resettlement program in which the USCCB participates to resettle legally eligible refugees. That suspension prompted the conference to lay off about a third of the staff in its Migration and Refugee Services Office on Feb. 7.

In comments to the bishops, the pontiff said he recognizes “your valuable efforts” as they “work closely with migrants and refugees, proclaiming Jesus Christ and promoting fundamental human rights.”

Pope Francis said he was writing because of “the major crisis” in the U.S. over President Donald Trump’s “program of mass deportations.”

In what appeared to be a response to comments by Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, made in a January television interview about the Catholic concept of “ordo amoris” (the order of love or charity), Pope Francis said, “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups.”

Vance previously argued the concept teaches that “you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. And then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.”

But the pontiff said the “true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”

Archbishop Broglio said the bishops join Pope Francis in prayer that “families suffering from the sudden withdrawal of aid may find the strength to endure.” “With you, we pray that the U.S. government keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need,” he added.

“We also turn to the People of God to ask their mercy and generosity in supporting the Catholic Relief Services national collection this Lent as well as the ‘on the ground’ work of local Catholic Charities organizations so that the void might be filled with the efforts of all,” he said.

Read More Immigration & Migration

As Latino communities live in fear of ICE, LA Catholics find ways to help hurting families

How public opinion can influence migration policies

Green card policy change may leave immigrants seeking legal status vulnerable to deportation

Amid ‘reverse migration,’ sisters in Mexico accompany migrants trapped by US policies

Wenski: Pivot to immigration reform, not ‘Alcatraz’ camps, now the border is secure

West Virginia bishop warns on immigration: ‘The final judge of our actions is God’

Copyright © 2025 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Kate Scanlon

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 |

  • Mary’s assumption: The long-held belief was declared dogma 75 years ago

  • Analysis: At 100 days, Pope Leo’s papacy rooted in St. Augustine, reflection, unity

  • Project PLASE hopes Beacon House Square shines a light in Southwest Baltimore 

  • Pope Leo holds the host up in both hands during the consecration Pope Leo’s Tears at Mass

  • Canadian court OKs priest’s abuse suit against prominent priest, religious order

| Latest Local News |

The homework debate: Is it time to re-think after-school work?

Sister Patricia McCarron, new schools superintendent, talks about what inspired her to become an educator

Project PLASE hopes Beacon House Square shines a light in Southwest Baltimore 

Baltimore NBCC leader among People of Life awards winners

Gun buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

| Latest World News |

Pope Leo appoints new bishop of Jefferson City

Pope visits mountaintop Marian shrine

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, European leaders after Putin summit

Pregnancy resource centers learn to pivot amid a changing abortion landscape

Pope to Amazon bishops: Proclaim Gospel, fight injustice, defend nature

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · 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

  • Pope Leo appoints new bishop of Jefferson City
  • Pope visits mountaintop Marian shrine
  • Movie Review: ‘Weapons’
  • Trump meets with Zelenskyy, European leaders after Putin summit
  • Pregnancy resource centers learn to pivot amid a changing abortion landscape
  • The homework debate: Is it time to re-think after-school work?
  • Pope to Amazon bishops: Proclaim Gospel, fight injustice, defend nature
  • As Hong Kong Catholic activist’s trial reaches final stretch, appeals grow to ‘save him’
  • Sister Patricia McCarron, new schools superintendent, talks about what inspired her to become an educator

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en