US bishops thank Pope Francis for support amid 'struggle' on migration issues

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Feb. 11 thanked Pope Francis for his support for the U.S. bishops' work with migrants and refugees amid the current "struggle" on immigration policies in the U.S.

"I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all," wrote Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.

Archbishop Broglio added, "As we struggle to continue our care for the needy in our midst and the desire to improve the situation in those places from which immigrants come to our shores, we are ever mindful that in them we see the Face of Christ."

Earlier the same day, Pope Francis released a letter to the U.S. bishops, Catholics and all people of goodwill urging them not to give in to "narratives" that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to migrants and refugees.

While acknowledging "the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival," Pope Francis cautioned "deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness."

As a part of its effort to enforce its hardline immigration policies, the Trump administration suspended a federal refugee resettlement program in which the USCCB participates to resettle legally eligible refugees. That suspension prompted the conference to lay off about a third of the staff in its Migration and Refugee Services Office on Feb. 7.

In comments to the bishops, the pontiff said he recognizes "your valuable efforts" as they "work closely with migrants and refugees, proclaiming Jesus Christ and promoting fundamental human rights."

Pope Francis said he was writing because of "the major crisis" in the U.S. over President Donald Trump's "program of mass deportations."

In what appeared to be a response to comments by Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, made in a January television interview about the Catholic concept of "ordo amoris" (the order of love or charity), Pope Francis said, "Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups."

Vance previously argued the concept teaches that "you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. And then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world."

But the pontiff said the "true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the 'Good Samaritan,' that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception."

Archbishop Broglio said the bishops join Pope Francis in prayer that "families suffering from the sudden withdrawal of aid may find the strength to endure." "With you, we pray that the U.S. government keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need," he added.

"We also turn to the People of God to ask their mercy and generosity in supporting the Catholic Relief Services national collection this Lent as well as the 'on the ground' work of local Catholic Charities organizations so that the void might be filled with the efforts of all," he said.