Donald Trump’s ongoing dispute with Pope Leo has escalated as he targets the Catholic Church’s stance on migrants. The US president has recently criticized the Vatican leader for being “weak on crime” and “even worse on foreign policy,” resulting in the withdrawal of federal funding from a charity in Florida that aids migrant children. The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, which has been operating for six decades and received $11 million in federal funding, may face closure within a year due to the funding cut.
According to reports, the Department of Health and Human Services decided to revoke the funding due to a decrease in the number of children under the organization’s care, which has significantly dropped during Trump’s administration compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden. The decision to cut funding was made prior to Trump’s public dispute with Pope Leo, also known as Robert Francis Provost, suggesting that the move was not directly related to the feud.
Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski expressed disappointment over the funding cancellation, highlighting the organization’s long history of serving unaccompanied minors and questioning the government’s rationale for shutting down a beneficial program. While the shutdown is not explicitly tied to the conflict between Trump and the Pope, it coincides with heightened tensions between the two leaders.
In a separate event, Pope Leo condemned world leaders for fueling conflicts and spending vast sums on wars during his visit to Cameroon, criticizing the misuse of religion to justify violence. The Pope’s remarks come amid a backdrop of strained relations between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration.
