Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker meets with Pope Leo XIV
Illinois Democratic Gov. Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, a fellow native of the Land of Lincoln, at the Vatican this week. (Credit: REUTERS — No use Fox Weather/Outkick)
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was granted an audience with fellow Illini Pope Leo XIV, where the two exchanged gifts and discussed their collective criticisms of President Donald Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” ICE enforcement mission.
“Pope Leo XIV’s message of hope, compassion, unity and peace resonates with Illinoisans of all faiths and traditions,” Pritzker said in a statement after the meeting, which was set up with the help of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich.
Pritzker and Leo reportedly discussed their reservations about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Illinois and Chicago, specifically, with the governor saying that the pope agreed with his feeling of pride that “the people of Chicago stood up against the oppression that’s been brought on immigrants.”
Pritzker told Chicago’s NBC affiliate that the pope has strong feelings about ICE’s activities and that the pontiff wanted to hear Pritzker’s views and asked questions about the state of Midway Blitz.
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Pope Leo XIV greets Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at the Vatican, Vatican City. (Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS)
Leo was reportedly heartened when told the operation appeared to be winding down in Chicago, according to Pritzker’s comments.
Earlier this month, a group of U.S. bishops released a statement supported by Leo that criticized some of ICE’s operations – including mass deportations – and spoke of public fears about the missions.
Released from Baltimore, the statement – endorsed by a vote of 216-5 with three clergy abstaining – read in part…
