Cardinals Call for Healing After Minnesota Immigration Crisis

Top Catholic leaders traveled to Minnesota's Twin Cities with a message of hope: even the deepest divides can heal through compassion and dialogue.

Two American cardinals and the Vatican's ambassador to the United States celebrated Mass in St. Paul on Friday, standing in solidarity with migrant communities while calling for unity after a difficult winter. The service at the University of St. Thomas brought together more than two dozen bishops to address the human impact of recent immigration enforcement.

Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington acknowledged the complexity of the issue. He affirmed that Catholic teaching supports border security and deporting those convicted of serious crimes, but he emphasized that families who've built lives here for decades deserve dignity and compassion.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis shared his anger at seeing migrant families too scared to attend church during enforcement operations. But he encouraged the packed chapel to choose a different path forward, focusing on kindness and peace instead of division.

The gathering came after a challenging period in Minnesota. Thousands of federal officers conducted immigration enforcement operations that led to daily confrontations with protesters. Two U.S. citizens were killed during demonstrations, and about 100 clergy members were arrested at the airport during a major mobilization.

The Ripple Effect

The religious leaders' call for reconciliation is already changing conversations in the Twin Cities. By acknowledging pain on all sides, including the difficult job of enforcement officers, they're modeling a way forward that doesn't require anyone to abandon their values.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's representative, said Pope Leo XIV supports the bishops' advocacy for migrants. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark reminded listeners that Scripture calls believers to welcome strangers even more often than it commands loving one's neighbor.

The cardinals emphasized that faith and civic duty aren't in conflict. Both should focus on the good of society and treating all people with dignity. They noted that America's failure to address immigration reform through Congress for decades has made the issue increasingly divisive.

Hebda preached about "the ministry of reconciliation" that must happen in Minnesota and beyond. McElroy agreed that healing will take time but stressed that everyone affected needs to be included in that process, from grieving families to migrants to immigration agents themselves.

Their united presence in Minnesota sends a powerful signal: communities can find common ground even on the most divisive issues when they lead with compassion and recognize the humanity in everyone involved.