Headlines
Pope Leo Decries Migrants Being Treated 'worse Than House Pets'
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
Pope Leo XIV, returning from a four‑nation Africa tour on April 23, 2026, harshly criticized how migrants are often dehumanized—likened to being treated “worse than house pets or animals”—and urged wealthier nations to support development in poorer countries to reduce forced migration.
Pope Leo Criticizes World's Poor Treatment of Migrants, Calls for Humane Response
Pope Leo's Remarks on Migrants and Global Responsibility
By Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo's Strong Critique of Migrant Treatment
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT, April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Leo on Thursday decried the world's treatment of immigrants, saying that often migrants and refugees seeking to escape violence or poverty are considered "worse than house pets or animals," in unusually strong remarks on the issue.
Criticism of U.S. Immigration Policies
Leo, who has been a critic of U.S. President Trump's hardline immigration policies, called for humane treatment of immigrants while on his flight back to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.
Humanitarian Appeal
"They are human beings and we have to treat human beings in a humanitarian way and not treat them worse … than house pets or animals," the pope said in a press conference.
Context and Previous Statements
Leo, the first U.S. pope, did not mention any specific country in his remarks on Thursday.
The pope has previously questioned whether the Trump administration's hardline policies are in line with the Catholic Church's strict pro-life teachings, in remarks that drew sharp criticism from conservative U.S. Catholics.
Call for Global Solutions and Shared Responsibility
Border Control and Development Aid
Leo said on Thursday that countries have a right to control their borders. He urged richer nations to help develop the countries that migrants are leaving, so they do not feel the need to leave.
Questions for Wealthier Nations
"What are richer countries doing to change the situation for poorer countries?" he asked. "And why can't we seek … to change the situations in (those) countries?"
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee, editing by Deepa Babington)
Key Takeaways
- •Pope Leo XIV—historically the first U.S.‑born and Augustinian pope—made unusually strong remarks condemning dehumanizing treatment of migrants, comparing it to animals or pets.
- •He balanced this with acknowledgment of nations’ right to border control, yet emphasized responsibility of richer countries to help change conditions in migrants’ home countries.
- •The remarks come amid his Africa tour and amid his broader human rights advocacy, including recent calls for humane treatment of migrants and concerns about justice systems undermining migrant dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pope Leo decries migrants being treated 'worse than house pets'
1What did Pope Leo say about the treatment of migrants?
Pope Leo stated that migrants and refugees are often treated worse than house pets or animals and called for humane treatment.
2Did Pope Leo mention any specific country in his remarks?
Pope Leo did not mention any specific country in his remarks about the treatment of migrants.
3What has Pope Leo previously said about U.S. immigration policies?
Pope Leo has criticized U.S. President Trump's hardline immigration policies and questioned if they align with Catholic teachings.
4What solution did Pope Leo suggest for the migration crisis?
Pope Leo urged richer nations to help develop poorer countries so that people would not feel compelled to migrate.
