Ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration, Pope Francis conveyed his well wishes and prayers to the incoming president. In a message directed to Trump, the Pope expressed his hope that God would grant him wisdom, strength, and protection as he assumes his presidential duties. He also prayed for peace and reconciliation among people, particularly given the world's various challenges.
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The Pope's message expressed a desire for the American people to flourish under Trump's leadership and to work towards a more just society free from hatred, discrimination, and exclusion. This message of goodwill follows recent criticism from the Pope regarding Trump's immigration policies. Just a day before the inauguration, the Pope expressed his disapproval, calling the proposed deportations a "disgrace" and suggesting that such measures were not the appropriate way to address the issue.
Pope Francis criticized Trump's deportation policy just one day prior, saying Sunday on an evening television program, "If true, this will be a disgrace." (Reuters/Ciro De Luca/File)
Reports indicate that the incoming Trump administration is prepared to initiate immigration arrests across the nation from the very first day, empowering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Furthermore, earlier this month, during his annual address, Pope Francis attributed assassination attempts against Trump in 2024 to the spread of "fake news," highlighting the divisive impact of misinformation and its potential to incite hatred and destabilize nations.
President-elect Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
He specifically referenced the attacks on the Slovakian Prime Minister and the then-President-elect of the United States as tragic consequences of this phenomenon.
