SILVER SPRING, Maryland – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), greets with joy the announcement of the new pope, Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a native of Chicago, is the first American pope.

"Pope Leo XIV's election is particularly meaningful to those of us who have spent our lives advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees," said Anna Gallagher, CLINIC's executive director. "As we look to the future, we are filled with hope that Pope Leo XIV will prioritize the voices and needs of migrants. Whether fleeing violence, poverty, or the ravages of climate change, migrants and refugees are often forced to navigate systems that fail to recognize their dignity. Pope Leo XIV, like Pope Francis before him, will have an important role in reminding the world of the power of compassion and the need for solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters."

Pope Leo XIV has spent much of his life living in Peru, where he was bishop of the city of Chiclayo and where he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen. The pope is said to have become acutely aware of the conditions forcing migration and of the vulnerabilities migrants face.

"Pope Leo XIV's long history of working with marginalized communities, including immigrants, gives us confidence that he will continue to build on the Church's rich tradition of advocacy for the most vulnerable," continued Gallagher. "As an American, we pray he will have particular insight into how the Church in the United States can live out the Gospel call to welcome the stranger. May the election of Pope Leo XIV inspire us all to continue working together for a world where the dignity of every person is honored, especially those who have been displaced from their homes and are in search of a better future."