Final Message Directed Toward Immigrants and the Vulnerable
Polar Opposites with Trump’s Anti-Immigration Policies
Both Leaders Unwilling to Compromise on Their Core Values and Legacies
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on the morning of the 21st (local time), the Vatican announced. Yonhap News
"Today, I hope that all of us can once again embrace hope and learn to trust those who are different from us, or who come from distant lands with unfamiliar lives and cultures."
The final message of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on the 21st (local time), was also directed toward immigrants and the vulnerable. During his lifetime, he clashed multiple times with U.S. President Donald Trump over immigration issues. Pope Francis, who consistently appealed for mercy and compassion toward refugees and the poor, and President Trump, who from the outset of his first term promoted the extreme anti-immigration policy of the "Mexico border wall," were fundamentally at odds from the beginning.
The main reason for the conflict between Pope Francis and President Trump was their opposing beliefs regarding immigration. The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Until the Pope's final days, the two leaders clashed over immigration issues," adding, "Both considered this issue central to their mission and legacy."
Elected as the 266th Pope in March 2013 as the first South American (from Argentina) in history, Pope Francis chose Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean?a gateway for refugees heading to Europe?as his first destination. He sought to shed light on a humanitarian crisis ignored by the world.
The two leaders directly clashed in 2016. Pope Francis publicly criticized then-presidential candidate Trump’s pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border, stating, "A person who only builds walls and does not build bridges is not a Christian." President Trump responded by calling the Pope's remarks disgraceful and, through his campaign, asserted, "If ISIS attacks the Vatican, the Pope would have prayed that Trump was president."
When the two met in person for the only time at the Vatican in 2017, President Trump was all smiles, while the Pope remained expressionless. The Pope, who was critical of climate change denial, presented Trump with a translated copy of his encyclical on climate change. President Trump later described the meeting as "fantastic."
This year, Pope Francis once again offered pointed criticism toward President Trump, who returned to the White House after four years. In a January interview with an Italian broadcaster, he stated, "If Trump strengthens immigration crackdowns, it would be a disgrace." Shortly after sending an open letter to U.S. bishops criticizing mass deportations, J.D. Vance, the U.S. Vice President, became the Pope’s final visitor when he stopped by to offer Easter greetings while the Pope was hospitalized.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis was also known for his critical stance on modern capitalism. During his lifetime, he met with CEOs of multinational corporations such as Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Apple, Bank of America (BoA), Blackstone, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP. The NYT reported, "He positioned himself as a bridge to global corporate leaders," and added, "In his meetings with them, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of not forgetting the poor."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
