The day before Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, Pope Francis said he would make no judgments about the candidate and was interested only in the impact his policies would have on the poor. Eugenio Scalfari, co-founder and former editor of La Repubblica, said he discussed the president-elect with Pope Francis on Nov. 7. “I don't give judgments about persons and politicians; I only want to understand what sufferings their way of proceeding will cause the poor and excluded,” the pope said. Mr. Scalfari said the pope’s greatest concern was for refugees and immigrants. Christians must do what they can to solve the underlying problems forcing so many to flee their homelands, the pope said. “There are poor people in wealthy countries who are afraid of welcoming people like them from poor countries,” the pope said. “It is a perverse cycle that must be interrupted. We must tear down the walls that divide, try to increase well-being and make it more widespread.
Pope: Refugees outweigh political concerns
Migrants reach out from a boat during rescue operations Oct. 20 in the Mediterranean Sea. (CNS photo/Italian Red Cross via EPA)
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