Pope Leo XIV's brother, John Prevost, has said the new pontiff would not remain silent on the issue of immigration, signaling that he is likely to continue Pope Francis' outspoken and critical approach to the Trump administration's immigration policy.
Francis frequently voiced his opposition to Donald Trump's mass deportations plans, famously criticizing his plan for a border wall between the US and Mexico during a speech back in 2016. He reiterated criticism after his 2024 election, saying in January that mass deportations would be a "disgrace" as it "makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill."
Speaking at a talk show in Italy, the pontiff, who has been vocal about his opposition to such policies, said "this is not the way to solve things." "That's not how things are resolved," he added.
"I don't think we'll see extremes either way," said Pope Leo's brother in an interview with The New York Times on Thursday. "I don't think he'll stay quiet for too long if he has something to say.
He then added:
"I know he's not happy with what's going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he'll go with it is only one's guess, but he won't just sit back. I don't think he'll be the silent one"
Prevost also offered similar commentary in an interview with ABC News:
"I think because the way our country is going, I don't think he necessarily will always agree [with] what's happening. I think a big thing for him is immigration and is it right -- what's going on? I think that will be a challenge for him, because I think he'll say something about it, too."
Before becoming pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost maintained a presence on social media, where he shared content that at times expressed criticism of U.S. immigration measures. Using the handle @drprevost on X, he reposted editorials condemning mass deportations and highlighting Catholic perspectives on compassion and justice.
In February he reposted an article titled "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others", in direct response to the vice president's invocation of "ordo amoris," a medieval Catholic concept used to justify prioritizing fellow citizens over migrants. He also shared content critical of Trump's and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's deportation policies. In April, he reposted a message quoting Bishop Evelio Menjivar asking, "Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed?"
As Trump & Bukele use Oval to 🤣 Feds' illicit deportation of a US resident (https://t.co/t80iDMbBKf), once an undoc-ed Salvadorean himself, now-DC Aux Evelio asks, "Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?" https://t.co/jTradMfr0v
— Rocco Palmo (@roccopalmo) April 14, 2025
Though former President Trump publicly welcomed Pope Leo's election, figures in his political circle voiced concern over the pope's perceived alignment with progressive views. Commentators such as Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer criticized the new pontiff for his apparent ideological closeness to Pope Francis, as The Guardian points out, with Bannon calling him "one of the dark horses" of the conclave because of what he deemed to Leo's progressive views.
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