On Trump vs. Pope, let us not choose between the heart and the head

Who ever could have guessed that the election of the first American Pope would cause political problems at home?From the moment that Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV last year, a clash between Rome and Washington was inevitable.Not least because, for years now, consecutive leaders of the Catholic church have had policies which fly against the policies not just of the US government but any sensible government.For example, it is hard to find any figure in the world more in favor of open borders than the various men who have held the office of Pope in recent years.Pope Leo, like his predecessor Pope Francis is very keen to speak up for the plight of illegal migrants.

But — again like his predecessor — he is silent on the challenges which such migrants bring to the populations expected to absorb them.Pope Leo has already pointedly announced that he intends to spend July 4 this year on the Italian island of Lampedusa.For years that Mediterranean island — of only 6,000 people — has been one of the main landing spots for illegal migrant boats heading into Europe.

Pope Leo’s predecessor also visited the island.And each time the visit is in order to stress the need for the developed world to be “open-hearted,” “welcoming” and much more.I suppose it is part of the job of a Pope to stress the need for kindness.But it hasn’t helped quell the problems which millions of illegal migrants bring into Lampedusa, Italy and then all of Europe.

Whenever a portion of these illegal migrants get involved in criminal activity, including terrorism, you won’t see the Pope accepting any blame for it.But this is just one thing that would inevitably cause friction with an administration in Washington, which was in large part elected to sort out America’s illegal immigration crisis.This week the president, vice president and the US border czar, Tom Homan, have all been dragged into this battle with the Pope.The other issue that has set Rome and Washington aga...