Faced with Trump’s migration policy, Pope Leo XIV is reshaping the American episcopate

In silence, but with determination, Leo XIV is redrawing the face of the American Church in the age of Donald Trump. Latest significant gesture to date: in mid-December, the pope chose Father Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez – born in the Dominican Republic – to guide the diocese of Palm Beach. Located in Florida, the latter notably covers Mar-a-Lago, the private residence of the current tenant of the White House. Leo XIV therefore chose a migrant to be the bishop… of Donald Trump.

Until now a priest in a largely Hispanic parish in New York, Bishop Rodriguez greeted his appointment with caution. While he welcomed certain aspects of the American president’s action, he nevertheless reminded the Associated Press agency that “when it comes to migrants, we want to help (…), because we believe that we can do things in a better way than we currently do.” And added: “We must not demonize migrants. They should not be rejected or mistreated, but on the contrary treated with respect and dignity.”

Another decision of Leo XIV: to accept the resignation and retirement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, until now at the head of the diocese of New York. He had only been 75 years old for a few months and the custom was to keep cardinals in office beyond the canonical retirement age, most often until they were 80 years old. “Cardinal Dolan was identified as the spearhead of a Church combative against the Democrats and lenient towards the Republicans, including Donald Trump, analyzes Massimo Faggioli, specialist in American Catholicism. With his departure, it is clear that the ruling administration is losing a quasi-ally in New York.”

For Massimo Faggioli, these different provisions of Leo XIV are part of a well-defined strategy. “The pope wants to be able to count on the American bishops to speak to the Trump administration so as not to have to do everything himself from the Vatican,” explains the academic. And these choices seem to be bearing fruit: during their last plenary assembly, in November, the bishops of the United States almost unanimously adopted a declaration very critical of the policy of repression of migrants.

Bishops from elsewhere

This orientation is part of a movement that began in the first weeks of the pontificate. Barely two weeks after his election, Leo XIV already made his first appointment to the United States. On May 22, he entrusted Mgr Michael Pham, of Vietnamese origin, with the leadership of the diocese of San Diego. A few days later, two other bishops were designated in the country: Mgr Pedro Bismarck Chau then Mgr Simon Peter Engurait. Special feature of these three men: they were all born outside the United States (Vietnam, Nicaragua and Uganda).

At a time when Donald Trump’s second presidential term was increasingly clearly demonstrating his desire to toughen controls, arrests and expulsions, the Pope singled out three figures linked to the migration issue for positions of responsibility. We had to wait for the fourth appointment, on July 1 – that of Mgr Mark Steven Rivituso – to find a native of North American soil.