The Pope Whacks The Heretic

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, has once again inserted himself into the political fray—this time, taking aim at Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans and J.D. Vance’s heretical interpretation of Church teachings. His remarks, delivered with his signature mix of pastoral concern and blunt moral clarity, are a direct challenge to the rhetoric of figures like Trump and Vance, both of whom have pushed for sweeping immigration crackdowns that would forcibly remove millions of people from the United States.

Francis didn’t name names, but he didn’t have to. When he warns against the “cruelty” of anti-immigrant policies, or reminds the world that “the migrant is not a criminal,” the message is clear: He’s talking about the forces in American politics that seek to dehumanize immigrants in the name of nationalism.

This isn’t new territory for the pope. Since his election in 2013, Francis has made advocating for migrants and refugees one of the defining missions of his papacy. He’s spoken out against border walls, denounced the mistreatment of asylum seekers, and called on Catholics to see the face of Christ in those forced to flee their homes. What’s different now is the political landscape he’s addressing. With Trump’s return to power, the United States is poised to escalate one of the harshest anti-immigrant agendas in modern history, and Francis seems to recognize the moment for what it is: a test of conscience for the Catholic Church, and for the world.

Francis may be the leader of the Catholic Church, but his influence over American Catholics—particularly those aligned with Trump—has been far from absolute. In the U.S., the Catholic electorate is deeply divided, with white Catholics leaning Republican and Latino Catholics leaning Democratic. Trump won the white Catholic vote in both 2016, 2020, and 2024, despite his hardline immigration stance running counter to decades of Catholic social teaching.

J.D. Vance, for his part, represents a new breed of Catholic nationalist—one who cherry-picks elements of the faith (anti-abortion, pro-traditional family) while outright ignoring or opposing its calls for social justice and human dignity. He’s part of a growing segment of the American right that has sought to recast Catholicism as a faith of strength and order rather than compassion and mercy. Francis, by contrast, embodies the latter—a vision of Catholicism that prioritizes the poor, the marginalized, and, yes, the immigrant. Vance’s open rebuke of the pope and the U.S. Council of Bishops is viewed as blasphemous by some theologians, which under Church teachings, is grounds for excommunication.

The ideological gap between Francis and the American right has been widening for years, but Trump’s second term could push it into outright confrontation. If his administration follows through on plans for mass deportations, church leaders in the U.S. will face a choice: follow the pope’s lead and stand against these policies, or align themselves with the nationalist movement that now dominates conservative politics.

If there’s one thing history has shown, it’s that Jesuits like Francis are not afraid to take on power. The Society of Jesus has a long tradition of intellectualism, activism, and, at times, direct political involvement. They’ve been exiled from nations, targeted by authoritarian regimes, and at the forefront of movements for social justice. Francis, in many ways, is the embodiment of that tradition—an Argentine Jesuit shaped by the brutal military dictatorship of the 1970s, deeply aware of the ways political power can be wielded against the vulnerable.

His approach to Trump’s policies is unlikely to be subtle. While previous popes might have opted for diplomatic caution, Francis has shown time and again that he’s willing to call out injustice directly. His comments this week are just the beginning. The real question is whether American Catholics—particularly the bishops who have often been hesitant to challenge Trump—will follow his lead.

Francis’ words may not change Trump’s immigration plans, but they do set the stage for a deeper struggle within American Catholicism. In the months ahead, we can expect to see more Catholic leaders forced to take a stand: Will they side with the pope, or with the nationalist forces gaining influence in the Church?

It’s critical to understand that one of the foundational perspectives of the Catholic Church is that the pope is infallible, anointed by God as his representative. If American Catholics follow Vance’s lead and begin to openly doubt and question the pope’s teachings and perspectives, they run the risk of excommunication.