US vice president clashes with Pope Leo over immigration

US Vice President JD Vance said that he disagrees with the Vatican's position on immigration, describing some of its statements as "troubling," following repeated criticism from Pope Leo XIV of President Donald Trump's immigration policies, Reuters reports.

Leo, the first US-born pope, has repeatedly called for "a deep reflection" in the United States on the treatment of migrants under the Trump administration. He has described the administration as being "extremely disrespectful" toward immigrants and criticized what he called "their inhuman" treatment.

"I do think that some of the things that have come out of the Vatican on the immigration question in particular have been troubling, and ultimately I disagree with it," Vance, who is Catholic, said.

Vance said he has sought to engage constructively with Catholic leaders who oppose the administration's immigration policies.

"What I tell the Catholic leadership I talk to who disagree with our immigration policies, you know, I'm not hostile about it. I invite them to have the conversation but I also encourage them to remember that mass migration has victims," he said.

Trump has pursued a sweeping immigration crackdown and deportation campaign, arguing that the measures are necessary to strengthen domestic security and curb illegal immigration. Rights groups, however, have accused the administration of violating free speech and due process rights while creating an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities, who have raised concerns about racial profiling.

The president has also publicly criticized Pope Leo, whose differences with the administration extend beyond immigration.

The Vatican has declined to participate in Trump's proposed "Board of Peace" initiative for Gaza.

Pope Leo has also criticized the conflict with Iran that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets. More recently, he welcomed an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran, expressing hope that it would help bring the conflict to an end.

By Vafa Guliyeva