Pope Francis marked the second inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump early Monday with a proper message, providing prayers for “knowledge, power, and safety” for the forty seventh president of the USA.
In a press release launched by the Holy See Press Workplace within the Vatican, Francis expressed cautious optimism about America’s future underneath the brand new Trump administration.
“Impressed by your nation’s beliefs of being a land of alternative and welcome for all, it’s my hope that underneath your management the American individuals will prosper and at all times try to construct a extra simply society, the place there isn’t any room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion,” the pope stated.
He stated he prayed for God to information Mr. Trump’s efforts in “selling peace and reconciliation amongst peoples,” whereas acknowledging the challenges dealing with the president and the nation. As is widespread for the pope, he took the chance to skewer “the scourge of struggle.”
On Sunday, Francis had employed a unique tone throughout a televised interview in Italy, the place he criticized experiences of potential mass deportations in the USA. Talking on Italian broadcaster Nove’s “Che tempo che fa” program on Sunday, he addressed the plight of undocumented immigrants.
“If that is true, it’s a shame as a result of it makes the poor unlucky who don’t have anything pay the value of imbalance. This isn’t how issues are solved,” Francis stated, referring to alleged deportation plans.
It’s not the primary time the pontiff has criticized Mr. Trump. In 2016, Francis — the primary Latin-American pope — condemned then-President Trump’s plan to cease migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as “not Christian.”
Mr. Trump responded by calling the pontiff’s feedback “disgraceful.” “No chief, particularly a non secular chief, ought to have the precise to query one other man’s faith or religion,” he stated in a press release.
Mr. Trump now has pledged to start deporting thousands and thousands of unlawful immigrants on his first day in workplace, in what he has known as “the biggest deportation program in American historical past.”
On Sunday, Francis pleaded for nations with decrease delivery charges to start accepting extra migrants: “Italy has a mean age of 46 … let migrants in,” he stated, noting migrants have to be “built-in.”
“If the migrant shouldn’t be built-in, it’s a downside,” he stated.
In his message on Monday, the pope invoked “an abundance of divine blessings” on Mr. Trump, his household and the “beloved” American individuals.