Pope Leo XIV has supported the US Conference of Catholic Bishops rare statement on US immigration and urged the US government to "treat people humanely."

The Bishops' message leveled criticism of President Donald Trump's policies of mass deportation and the "vilification" of immigrants. The US clergy spoke about the fear and anxiety that immigration raids have sown in communities. They also rejected the denial of care to migrants in detention centers.

"I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them," said the US-born pope.

Leo told reporters that "every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter," but he noted that there were people who were "living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years" who were being treated in a way "that is extremely disrespectful."

"We have to look for ways of treating people humanely," Leo said, speaking to journalists in English.

"If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, there's a system of justice," he added.

US bishops praise immigrants' contributions

US Conference of Catholic Bishops released the message supporting immigrants in the US at the conclusion of the group's meeting last week.

It marked the first time since 2013 that the bishops had penned such a single-issue statement at one of their meetings.

"We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones," the US Bishops said.

"Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation. We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity," the message added.

Pope Leo XIV has previously urged local bishops in the US to speak out on matters of social justice.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher