Pope Leo snubbed US President Donald Trump once again Friday, as he lauded America for its liberal history of welcoming immigrants. He was addressing the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia live from the Vatican after he received the Centre’s Liberty Medal.
The Pope has been a fierce critic of Trump’s immigration policy, having called it “inhuman” in the past. The Pope called upon Americans to uphold the ideal of the Declaration of Independence, since America had become the byword of freedom owing to its welcoming stance towards immigrants in the past.
The US is celebrating its 250th anniversary of Independence.
Without naming Trump, Leo said (according to Reuters): “”The moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to support, protect and cherish the lives of all, especially the most vulnerable and those whose worth is questioned,”
The Pope also goaded America to pass laws that “recognise and safeguard” life from conception until natural death, Reuters reported.
“In order for a nation to flourish, it must be truly united; united not by goals bound to momentary endeavors, but by ideals that do not fade with the passing of time,” he said.