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U.S. NEWS A3
Friday 19 February 2016
Pope vs. Trump: ‘Not Christian’ to only build border walls
NICOLE WINFIELD the Vatican, saying that Pope Francis arrives to pay a visit to the St. Mary Major Basilica Rome, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016.
JULIE PACE if that happened, “the Pope Francis landed in Rome Thursday after a week-long trip to Mexico.
Associated Press pope would have only
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE wished and prayed that (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
(AP) — Thrusting himself into Donald Trump would have
the heated American pres- been president because
idential campaign, Pope this would not have hap-
Francis declared Thursday pened.”
that Donald Trump is “not Francis, the first pope from
Christian” if he wants to Latin America, urged Con-
address illegal immigra- gress during his visit to
tion only by building a wall Washington last year to
along the U.S.-Mexico bor- respond to immigrants “in
der. a way which is always hu-
Trump fired back ferocious- mane, just and fraternal.”
ly, saying it was “disgrace- He irked Republicans on
ful” for a religious leader to the same trip with his force-
question a person’s faith. ful call for international
The rare back-and-forth action to address climate
between pontiff and presi- change.
dential candidate was the Immigration is among the
latest astonishing devel- most contentious issues in
opment in an American American politics. Republi-
election already roiled cans have moved toward
by Trump’s free-wheeling hardline positions that em-
rhetoric and controversial phasize law enforcement
policy proposals, particu- and border security, block-
larly on immigration. It also ing comprehensive legis-
underscored the popular lation in 2013 that would
pope’s willingness to nee- have included a path to
dle U.S. politicians on hot- citizenship for many of the
button issues. 11 million people in the U.S.
Francis’ comments came illegally.
hours after he concluded Hispanics, an increasingly
a visit to Mexico, where he large voting bloc in U.S.
prayed at the border for presidential elections, have
people who died trying to flocked to Democrats in
reach the U.S. While speak- recent years. President
ing to reporters on the pa- Barack Obama won more
pal plane, he was asked than 70 percent in the 2012
what he thought of Trump’s election, leading some Re-
campaign pledge to build publican leaders to con-
a wall along the entire clude the party must in-
length of the border and crease its appeal to them.
expel millions of people in However, the current GOP
the U.S. illegally. presidential primary has
“A person who thinks only been dominated by in-
about building walls, wher- creasingly tough rhetoric.
ever they may be, and Trump has insisted that
not building bridges, is not Mexico will pay for his pro-
Christian,” he said. While posed border wall and has
Francis said he would said some Mexicans en-
“give the benefit of the tering the U.S. illegally are
doubt” because he had murderers and rapists.
not heard Trump’s border While Trump’s words have
plans independently, he been among the most in-
added, “I say only that this flammatory, some of his
man is not a Christian if he rivals have staked out simi-
has said things like that.” lar enforcement positions.
“For a religious leader to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and
question a person’s faith retired neurosurgeon Ben
is disgraceful,” he said at Carson are among those
a campaign stop in South who have explicitly called
Carolina, which holds a for construction of a wall.
key primary on Saturday. Former Florida Gov. Jeb
“I am proud to be a Chris- Bush, one of the few GOP
tian, and as president I will candidates proposing a
not allow Christianity to be path to legal status for
consistently attacked and people already in the U.S.
weakened.” illegally, said Thursday he
Trump also raised the pros- supports “walls and fenc-
pect of the Islamic State ing where it’s appropriate.”
extremist group attacking q
