Pope Francis criticized populists for “creating psychosis” on immigration issues in Europe. | Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis rebukes Trump administration over family separations

Pope Francis on Sunday chastised the Trump administration’s practice of separating migrant children from their parents at the border, saying “populism is not the solution.”

In an interview with Reuters published Wednesday, Pope Francis said he supports U.S. Catholic bishops who had called separating families at the border “immoral” and contrary to Catholic values.


“Let it be clear that in these things, I respect (the position of) the bishops conference,” he said.

More broadly, the pope criticized populists for “creating psychosis” on immigration issues in Europe when some countries in the continent need more immigrants to offset an aging population.

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Pope Francis and President Donald Trump have regularly disagreed on a number of issues, including building a wall along the border with Mexico and refugees. The two men, however, were cordial when the president visited the Pope at the Vatican in 2017.