Pope Leo XIV met with El Paso’s Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s committee on migration, on October 8, 2025.  The pope stated that the church cannot remain silent about the situation of migrants in the United States.  Pope Leo made clear that he wants Catholic bishops and the U.S. church “to be united” on this crucially important issue, which he described as “a matter of human dignity.” The meeting came amid a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids targeting workplaces, private homes and public areas, leading to large-scale detentions and arrests and a widespread climate of fear within immigrant communities. “The Holy Father did express his concern for the situation of immigrants in the U.S.  He is quite aware of the way they are being treated right now, so he expressed his unity with them and with all of those who are suffering difficulties in the U.S,” according to Bishop Seitz.  The bishop went on to say that the situation regarding migrants reminds him of the actions of an authoritarian state that uses a particular group as a scapegoat in order to continue their agenda of consolidating authority.  He is hopeful that by reiterating the church’s teaching about the dignity of the human person, Pope Leo could help the U.S. church speak with greater unity and authority on this issue.  Bishop Seitz stated, “We know the Holy Father will be a tremendous asset to us against those who would try to divide the church in this type of situation.”