In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has escalated his conflict with Pope Leo, targeting the Catholic Church’s stance on migrants. Trump criticized the Vatican leader for being “weak on crime” and “poor on foreign policy,” leading to the withdrawal of $11 million in federal funding from the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, a charity that has supported migrant children for over six decades.
The charity, which has assisted migrant children with housing and aid, may face closure within a year due to the funding cut. The decision to revoke the funding was made by the Department of Health and Human Services, citing a decrease in the number of children under the archdiocese’s care, dropping from 22,000 under Joe Biden to 1,900 under Trump.
Although discussions about the funding cut began before Trump’s clash with Pope Leo, Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski expressed concern that the organization would only survive for three more months without the crucial financial support. He highlighted the charity’s long-standing commitment to aiding unaccompanied minors and questioned the government’s decision to end a program with proven benefits.
The shutdown of the charity coincides with heightened tensions between Trump and the Pope, as the latter recently criticized world leaders for fueling conflicts and using religion as a pretext for war. The Pope’s comments, made during his visit to Africa, suggest a growing rift between the two prominent figures.
