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cover of episode Furious Pope Leo Unleashes on Trump Inside USA

Furious Pope Leo Unleashes on Trump Inside USA

2025/6/22
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The MeidasTouch Podcast

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Ben Meiselas
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Ben Meiselas: 我感到非常震惊,因为特朗普政府对移民的政策简直是毫无人性。教皇利奥十四世的愤怒是完全可以理解的,他的行动也及时地阻止了ICE的暴行。作为一名美国公民,我感到羞愧,因为我们的政府竟然如此对待那些寻求庇护的人们。我希望更多的人能够站出来,像教皇利奥十四世一样,勇敢地对抗这种不公正的现象。我亲眼目睹了ICE在圣地亚哥的所作所为,他们对待移民的方式简直令人发指。我希望通过我们的报道,能够唤醒更多人的良知,让更多的人加入到保护移民的行列中来。我坚信,只要我们团结一致,就一定能够改变这种状况,让美国重新成为一个充满爱和希望的国家。

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Pope Leo XIV, angered by Trump's treatment of migrants, directs Bishop Michael Pham to organize a group of priests and faith leaders to stand in solidarity with migrants during their court appearances on International Refugee Day. Their presence successfully prevented ICE agents from detaining or attacking migrants.
  • Pope Leo XIV's anger at Trump's treatment of migrants
  • Appointment of Bishop Michael Pham
  • Successful operation preventing ICE attacks on migrants in San Diego court

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Translations:
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Uh-oh, Donald. You pissed off Pope Leo XIV. You don't want to do that, Donald. Pope Leo XIV is furious at Donald Trump, and he is taking action from the Vatican to help the migrants in the United States

who are being viciously targeted by the Trump regime, ripped away from their families, treated like trash as ICE agents tackle them and pummel them on the ground and engage in mass deportation in the most cruelest form.

Let me tell you what Pope Leo XIV specifically did on Friday, which is International Refugee Day. So Pope Leo XIV appointed a new bishop, someone by the name of Michael Pham. Now, the newly appointed bishop, Bishop Pham, wrote a letter on June 11th asking fellow men of cloth,

in the San Diego area throughout the United States and elsewhere to come and join him on June 20th, International Refugee Day. And there were about 16 other very prominent leaders in the Catholic Church who joined him. They went to the San Diego courthouses and they were ready to confront the ICE agents, the DHS agents who would normally be waiting in the courthouses to attack

the migrants like we've been seeing take place across the United States. This operation launched by Pope Leo XIV and led in San Diego by Michael Pham was highly successful and nobody got attacked. Nobody got captured by ICE. ICE backed off as a result of this operation led by Pope Leo XIV who appointed Michael Pham

Our friend Pablo Manriquez wrote the following. Videos are now surfacing on social media of ICE agents quietly leaving immigration courts in San Diego empty-handed after Bishop Michael Pham made good on his promise to escort migrants to their appointments on World Refugee Day. So here was the letter that

Michael Pham from the Diocese of San Diego wrote to other men of cloth after being directed to do this by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican, who's furious at Trump's behavior, at Trump's just treatment of migrants. Dehumanization is the word that I'm looking for. So here was the June 11th letter. Let's go through what went down. Dehumanization.

Dear fellow priests, deacons, and ministry leaders of parishes, on the morning of June 20th, which is International Refugee Day, a group of priests and faith leaders are planning to visit the federal court building to stand in solidarity with migrants who are making their court appearances. We know that migrants and refugees find themselves in the middle of the world.

in the difficult predicament of being called to appear, which is what the government asks of them, and then being given orders for expedited removal from our country. This group of priests and faith leaders will simply be present during this process as it has been experienced that the presence of faith leaders makes a difference in how migrants are treated.

Unfortunately, it will most likely not change the outcome. Following the court appearances, the faith leaders will have a press conference so that the clear message is sent that people of faith stand with immigrants and refugees and that that can be delivered to the broader public.

They will gather at 7 a.m. and conclude by 10 a.m. If you feel moved to participate, please notify any of the following. Being present will be a good way for us to give witness and stand with immigrants on a day on which across the diocese we will celebrate a mass at our various parishes dedicated to our immigrant brothers and sisters. Gratefully yours, um,

Michael Pham is one of the signatories. Now, CBS 8 in San Diego and others were there, and they are reporting that due to Bishop Michael Pham's presence in the courtroom, in effect, cases of migrants were postponed. Nobody was deported. Nobody was grabbed. Nobody was attacked by ICE agents. They would not go near the bishop. Well,

Let me share with you what went down as Bishop Michael Pham, auxiliary bishops and priests in the Diocese of San Diego. Here they are celebrating mass before joining migrants in federal court. Pham was the first bishop in the U.S. appointed by Pope Leo XIV. Let's show you this clip right here. And I'm so happy that God brought me home.

We've answered yes to the call of the Lord.

Now, I want to remind you that San Diego has been a hotbed for ICE activity. ICE has been trying to rip families apart in San Diego. ICE has been trying to provoke the community of San Diego. ICE has showed up, militarized,

raiding restaurants and factories and trying to attack people on the streets, going through peaceful communities in San Diego. Let me show you right here of what went down a few weeks back in the South Park area of San Diego to remind you why this is a particularly important area that Pope Leo XIV has been very focused on. Here, play this clip.

Fuck you guys! Fuck you guys! Fuck you guys! Fuck you guys!

Now, here is another video right here of residents in San Diego. This was a few weeks back as well in early June, basically pushing back on these ICE agents and these federal measures.

almost looked like a paramilitary group. Watch what happens when the community confronts them. Play this clip. Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame! shame

That's right! That's right! Back the fuck up! Back up! You guys are fucking Nazis! Get the fuck out here, you fucking Nazis! Fucking cowards! Go! Get the fuck out! Get the fuck out! Fucking cowards! Cowards! Fucking cowards! Nazi fucking cowards!

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ICE will send out a letter to people who have court appearances or they will ask people, hey, you need to show up to renew your application or people will just show up to court.

And then maybe someone is, they have to use the restroom or whatever. But then the ICE agents are hiding in the courthouse. They are wearing their masks because now in the United States, we have mass Gestapo a la the KKK a la Nazi Germany.

and these ice agents are waiting in bushes they're waiting in bathroom stalls they're hiding in communities and they tackle you and they throw you to the ground they beat you even if you're an american citizen if if you look a certain way we've been seeing that happen i'll show you with an american citizen in a second but

But here's what went down when ICE agents were waiting outside of a bathroom. A woman shows up for court. She's going through her paperwork. And the ICE agents wait for her and then arrest her and then get ready to send her out of the country and separate her from her family. Here, play this clip. Not in the way. Not in the way.

Yeah, so you're just going to go in the bathroom. Cool. Here's the going inside. Okay.

Welcome to the school of science.

Now, here's just an example of ICE going after American citizens. This isn't in San Diego, but this happened the other day. But this is like what they'll do. They'll go after, they'll try to beat you. And then if you like speak English and then you show them your ID, then they'll like just walk away. They wear their masks after pummeling you to the ground. Here, watch this clip. Why are you running? He said he's a U.S. citizen. I heard him.

He said he's a U.S. citizen. Exactly. Yep.

Here's how the Times of San Diego reports it. On World Refugee Day, masked immigrant agents weren't leaning against the off-white walls waiting to grab people. They scattered Friday after seeing a clergy delegation led by Bishop-elect Michael Pham.

Ken Stone from the Times of San Diego. Hat tip to you, Ken, for covering this. Eight immigration courts lined the fourth floor hallway of the downtown Edward Schwartz Federal Building. On the walls, boot prints of ICE agents. But on World Refugee Day, masked immigration agents weren't leaning against the off-white walls waiting to grab people. They scattered Friday after seeing a clergy delegation led by Bishop-elect Michael Pham.

Like the story of Moses and Exodus, the Red Sea parted, said observer Scott Reed on the Immigrant Aiding San Diego Organizing Project. Said another observer, we've never seen the hallways cleared out so quickly. The result, nobody was detained as immigration lawyers said it would happen. Two cases were heard Friday morning by Judge Catherine Kate Holiday Roberts.

a man whose case was continued and a woman whose case had been administratively closed for 20 years and reopened by the government. Her case also was continued. Jesuit priest Scott Santarosa, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Diego, briefed camera crews and other media members who weren't allowed into the federal building. Several reporters entered, including me, but didn't view the court proceedings.

Our presence made a difference, Santa Rosa said, quoting an immigration lawyer saying their client was given more time to prepare for another hearing. Any other day, said a local activist, two to four immigrants would be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taken away in vans operated by private prison core civic. In fact, at least two white vans were parked on an adjacent street with no license plate, but padlocks on the side doors.

Bishop Pham himself, a Vietnamese refugee as a child, said ICE agents were standing there covered with masks as we walked toward the courtroom. Eventually, the agents scattered and went away. No wonder people come in fear. Pham continued the mission of his predecessor, Cardinal Robert McElroy, also an outspoken advocate for immigrants, before leaving to be the Archbishop of Washington, D.C.,

Pham said a government lawyer struck up a chat in the restroom. He introduced himself to me, Pham told reporters. He feels conflicted with the situation. He knows his morals and his values.

Goes on to talk about how the Reverend Santa Rosa said mass ice agents were an intimidating presence, despite the fact that federal court staff were very accommodating. Immigrants said they came with great fear and trepidation. The Reverend Manny Del Rio of St. John of Cross and Lemon Grove echoed others.

It was evidence that our presence made a difference. That was one of the last peaceful times in a long time with no immigrants being detained. Besides 10 clergy members and the press, at least a dozen activists assembled outside the building and handed out sheets in English and Spanish titled Know Your Rights.

All things are possible with God, Santa Rosa told the Times of San Diego. This is a need that arises. I think we could conceivably come up with a schedule where some priests could be court witnesses and accompany immigrants. Very powerful, powerful stuff right there.

And to our international audience who's witnessing the fascism in America as masked agents are all throughout our streets now looking at people with brown skin or black skin or whatever and tackling them.

pummeling them to the ground, disappearing human beings off the street here in the United States. There's full-fledged fascism taking place in our country, full-fledged authoritarianism. It's not a constitutional crisis. We're beyond that. America is ruled by a dictator, an idiotic one, too. I mean, not all idiotic, but a specifically stupid dictator.

And we have a Gestapo, we have a secret police, masked officers attacking communities and going in and conducting raids. And no wonder tourism to the United States is plummeting. And obviously you see a furious Pope at the Vatican who's always been someone, Pope Leo XIV, outspoken and very supportive of immigrants taking decisive action here, which is always appreciated.

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