An immigrant mother of three, one of whom has special needs, was waiting at a bus stop on a Chicago street when, without warning, she was detained by ICE agents and taken to the Broadview detention center in Illinois.
This is just one of the heartbreaking stories shared with Pope Leo XIV during the Chicago Catholic delegation’s pilgrimage to the Vatican. Twenty eight clergy, students, and layleaders journeyed to Rome to advocate for immigrants and raise awareness about the suffering of families affected by immigration enforcement.
“One cannot love Christ at Mass or in the Eucharist if people don’t love Christ in the poor and in the suffering.” These were the powerful words shared by Fr. Paul Keller, CMF, during an interview with WBEZ’s In the Loop, reflecting on his experience as part of the delegation and the responsibility we share as Catholics to recognize Christ in those who suffer.
Listen to the full interview here
Pope Leo XIV was deeply moved by the arrival of this group of Catholic leaders and activists from his hometown of Chicago. The delegation was accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop José María García Maldonado of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The Holy Father has been a consistent voice of protest and support in the face of the difficult situation facing the immigrant community in the United States: “Many people who have lived here for years and years and years, never causing any problems, have been deeply affected by what is happening right now,” said Pope Leo XIV.
During the special meeting at the Vatican, members of the CSPL shared words of encouragement and petitions with the pope. They also gave him an album containing stories and prayer requests from people who had been detained during ICE raids and transferred to the detention center in Broadview.
“Dignity is entrusted to the responsibility of each person: at the same time, it also demands solidarity and mutual care, overcoming the many falsifications and manipulations that still disfigure our perception of it and hinder its realization,” Pope Leo XIV.
This pilgrimage to Rome comes in the wake of the Coalition’s organizing efforts to restore pastoral care for detainees at Broadview. CSPL is in an active lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.
“It’s wonderful to see the pope and to see so many joyful people united, but we don’t have the luxury of being starstruck for too long. Human beings are being scooped up and thrown away like last week’s recycling. And as long as that’s happening, we can’t really rest.” shared Fr. Keller. “Success is defined as these policies end.”
A sign carried by the CSPL delegation quoted the Pope’s own words: “The Church… needs your holy rebellion, your pure energy, your desire to transform realities of pain into spaces of hope.”
*Learn more: https://www.csplaction.org/in-the-news/pope-leo-meets-cspl
WBEZ Chicago interview https://www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-with-sasha-ann-simons/2026/11/02/chicago-clergy-visit-pope-leo
