Pope Leo XIV Chooses Latin America Over US After Branding Trump Immigration Raids 'Extremely Disrespectful'

The first American Pope has confirmed he will not visit the United States in 2026, instead prioritising trips to Latin America and Africa after months of escalating tensions with the Trump administration over immigration policy. Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born pontiff, has opted to visit the homelands of migrant communities rather than his own country during his opening year as leader of the global Catholic Church.

The Holy See Press Office confirmed on Sunday that a US trip is not on the agenda for 2026, ending weeks of speculation about a high-profile visit around September's United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision follows the pontiff's November condemnation of Trump's immigration enforcement, when he described the treatment of migrants as 'extremely disrespectful' and called out instances of violence during deportation raids.

Latin America Takes Priority Over Homeland

Pope Leo is expected to visit multiple countries in Latin America, Africa, and Europe before year's end. Peru's bishops have confirmed a papal visit is expected between November and December, while several Spanish bishops told media that Leo intends to visit Spain this year, potentially in June, including a stop at the Canary Islands, one of Europe's largest migrant hotspots.

The pope has also expressed interest in visiting Mexico to entrust his pontificate to Our Lady of Guadalupe, venerated at a shrine in Mexico City. Vatican correspondent Justin McLellan noted that a potential pairing of a Mexico visit with a US stop had been discussed, though this has now been ruled out.

Pope Leo XIV's choice to prioritise Latin American nations carries symbolic weight. The vast majority of those detained in Trump's deportation operations—as many as nine out of 10—have been Catholics from Latin America. By visiting their countries of origin rather than the US, the pontiff appears to be making a deliberate statement about his pastoral priorities.

Tensions With Trump Administration Escalate

The announcement comes after months of public disagreement between the Vatican and Washington. In November, Pope Leo backed US Catholic bishops who issued their first 'special message' in 12 years, condemning Trump's mass deportation agenda. Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff said: 'When people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least—and there's been some violence unfortunately—I think that the bishops have been very clear.'

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed concern over 'the fear and anxiety immigration raids stoking in communities' and 'the vilification of immigrants', declaring they 'oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people'.

Following Donald Trump's January attack on Venezuela, the pope condemned 'diplomacy based on force' and a renewed 'zeal for war'. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.

Breaking Papal Tradition

While a pope visiting his home country in the first year is not unprecedented—Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI both made trips in their first 12 months—the decision to skip America marks a significant departure. St John Paul II drew massive crowds in his native Poland in June 1979, while Pope Benedict XVI's first trip was to his native Germany for World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne.

Pope Francis never returned to his native Argentina following his 2013 election, despite frequently expressing his desire to do so. The Vatican traditionally avoids scheduling papal visits close to elections, and a trip later in 2026 would place his travel uncomfortably close to the US midterm elections in November.

Catholic VP Caught in Crossfire

Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, has found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position between his faith and political loyalties. Pope Leo gave Vance an icy reception when the vice president attended his inaugural mass last May.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin implied the pontiff was a liar in a post on X, and a White House spokesperson said the pope 'doesn't know what he's talking about', resulting in Vance demanding to know who made the statement. The Catholic community has been increasingly critical of Vance's commitment to the church, particularly following the killings of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.

Trump Administration Faces Republican Anxiety

The Trump administration announced last month it had carried out more than 527,000 deportations so far this year. Catholic leaders have been criticising Trump's mass deportation plan, as fear of immigration raids has slashed Mass attendance at some parishes. The federal government earlier this year reversed a Biden administration directive prohibiting immigration agents from carrying out raids at sensitive areas such as churches, schools, and hospitals.

The Pope's decision to prioritise Latin America over the US carries significant diplomatic and pastoral implications. By choosing to visit the homelands of migrant communities who have faced deportation, Pope Leo is making a clear statement about the Catholic Church's priorities under his leadership.