Pope Francis on Tuesday issued a major rebuke of the Trump administration’s plans for the mass deportations of migrants, stressing that the forceful removal of people simply for their immigration status deprives them of their inherent dignity and "will end badly."

Francis wrote a letter to U.S. bishops, in which he appeared to criticize Vice President JD Vance's religious argument in defense of the deportation policies.

U.S. border czar Tom Homan responded to the pope, saying that the Vatican is a city-state surrounded by walls and that Francis should leave immigration enforcement to him. Homan, a Catholic, also said Francis should focus on fixing the Catholic Church rather than U.S. immigration policies.

"He wants to attack us for securing our border. He's got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?" Homan told reporters. "So he's got a wall around that protects his people and himself, but we can't have a wall around the United States."

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As the first Latin American pope, Francis has long held the position of caring for immigrants, pointing to the biblical command to "welcome the stranger" in calling on countries to welcome, protect, promote and integrate people fleeing conflicts, poverty and climate disasters.

Francis and President Donald Trump have long butted heads over the issue of immigration, including prior to Trump's first term, when Francis said in 2016 that anyone who builds a wall to keep migrants out was "not a Christian."

In his letter, Francis acknowledged that governments have the right to defend their countries and keep their communities safe from criminals, but he added the deportation of people who fled their countries due to various difficult circumstances damages their dignity.

"That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness," he wrote.

Pointing to the Book of Exodus in the Bible and Jesus Christ's experience, Francis emphasized the right of people to seek shelter and safety in other lands and said the Trump administration's deportation plan was a "major crisis."

Anyone educated in Christianity, he said, "cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality."

"What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly," he continued.

POPE FRANCIS CALLS TRUMP'S DEPORTATION PLAN A 'DISGRACE'

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, thanked the pope for his letter.

"With you, we pray that the U.S. government keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need," Broglio wrote. "Boldly I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that more than 8,000 people had been arrested since Trump took office Jan. 20 as part of the president's plan to detain and deport immigrants in the country illegally, although hundreds of those arrested have since been released back into the U.S. Others have been deported, are being held in federal prisons or are being held at the Guantánamo Bay Cuba, detention camp.

Vance, a Catholic convert, has defended the administration's deportation plans by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as "ordo amoris," which he has said describes a hierarchy of care: prioritizing the family first, then the neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those from other regions.

However, Francis sought to fact-check Vance's understanding of the concept.

"Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups," Francis wrote in his letter. "The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception."

As Homan referenced, the Vatican is a walled-in, 108-acre city-state inside Rome, and it recently increased sanctions for anyone who enters illegally. The law, approved in December, calls for people to face up to four years in prison and a fine of up to 25,000 euros, or $25,873, if they enter with "violence, threat or deception," including by evading security checkpoints.

The U.S. bishops conference had already released a statement condemning Trump’s immigration policies after his first executive orders.

Anyone "focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us," the statement said.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago praised Francis' letter, telling Vatican Media that it showed the pope viewed "the protection and advocacy for the dignity of migrants as the preeminent urgency at this moment."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Michigan priest known for leading religious relic tours and hosting an exorcism podcast has been charged after allegedly placing a teenage girl's hair in his mouth and proceeding to floss his teeth with it.

Father Carlos Martins, a member of the Catholic Church and the co-host of "The Exorcist Files" podcast, was charged with misdemeanor battery in Illinois for the incident in November.

"The Exorcist Files" podcast, which is accompanied by a book with the same title, boasts of Martins' ability as an expert in exorcism and relays his personal stories.

The incident unraveled during a relic of St. Jude's tour at the Queen of Apostles parish in Joliet, Illinois, on Nov. 21, 2024.

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Martins "grabbed the hair" of a 13-year-old girl and placed it "in his mouth" in a "flossing motion," according to the criminal complaint, reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The Joliet Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that following the bizarre interaction, Martins proceeded to sit behind the teen girl and "make a growling noise."

Following the interaction, the religious tour was promptly shut down, and local law enforcement were called to the scene to intercede. 

The priest was confronted by employees of the Diocese of Joliet, and he was told that "he must depart from our parish and out of our Diocese."

"In an abundance of caution, the veneration of the relic and evening mass were canceled," the diocese said in a release.

Martins was processed by the Joliet Police Department, arraigned, and released as he awaits his pretrial hearing, court records from the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court in Will County showed.

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Martins' next court date is set for Feb. 24, though he is not required to appear at that pretrial hearing, Will County officials said.

In a statement, the Companions of the Cross, the religious order that Treasures of the Church is affiliated with, said Martins agreed to withdraw from his pastoral duties after the church was informed of the allegations.

"He remains entitled to due process, as is any accused," the church said. "The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention. We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation."

Martins’ status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is now listed as "Ministry revoked," according to the church’s website.

Martins' attorney could not be reached for comment.

Pope Francis' arm is in a sling Thursday after the Vatican confirmed he was injured in a fall, the second such incident in a matter of weeks.

The Vatican said Francis fell inside his residence Thursday morning and said he is now using a cloth sling to support his right arm. Francis also fell and injured his face just six weeks ago in December.

"This morning, due to a fall at the Santa Marta house, Pope Francis suffered a contusion on his right forearm, without fractures. The arm was immobilized as a precautionary measure," a statement said.

The falls are the latest in a series of health issues that have struck the pope, including longstanding knee issues and multiple surgeries in 2021 and 2023.

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Francis has pushed back on murmurs of his resignation. He wrote in an autobiography published on Tuesday that he is "well."

"The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs," he wrote.

The fall comes just days after President Biden gifted Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be granted in the U.S. The gift was sent over the phone, however, as Biden canceled a previously planned trip to Rome due to the California wildfires.

Instead, Biden bestowed the award on the pope during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.

"Pope Francis is unlike any who came before," a White House announcement reads. "Above all, he is the People’s Pope – a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world."

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It was the first time during his four years in office that Biden awarded the medal "with distinction," it said.

Biden, 82, leaves office on Jan. 20. The lifelong Catholic is also a recipient of the award with distinction, recognized when he was vice president by then-President Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago. That was the only time in Obama's two terms when he awarded that version of the medal, according to the Associated Press.

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

This verse is from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, and is about the baptism of Jesus Christ — celebrated in the Catholic faith on Jan. 12.

Jesus' baptism "is one of the most pivotal moments in His life, revealing His divine mission, identity and relationship with the Father," David Rives, a Christian author and columnist based in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital. 

During the baptism, "the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father's voice proclaimed, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,'" Rives said. 

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This line, he said, is "a powerful declaration that resonates across time." It serves to highlight "four key truths about Christ's baptism essential to understanding His identity and mission." 

The first of these key truths, Rives said, is Jesus' "identity as the Son of God and the Messiah." 

"This declaration not only validates Jesus' identity but also announces to the world that He is the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed One sent to redeem humanity," he said. 

With the baptism of Jesus Christ, He is "revealed as the fulfillment of the prophecies," Rives said. 

The second key truth is the "profound humility" of Jesus Christ, said Rives.

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"Despite being the sinless Son of God, He chooses to be baptized — an act that, according to the Book of Acts, is symbolic of the washing away of sins," he said. "Even this event was symbolic and prophetic of the indwelling Holy Spirit that is available to believers in Christ." 

Jesus was baptized not due to any sin — "but to fulfill all righteousness," Rives said.

"This act sets the tone for His ministry, showing that He came not to be served, but to serve and identify with those He came to save," he said. 

Rives said that Jesus "is the King who comes not in grandeur, but in meekness, offering His life for the redemption of all humankind." 

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Christ's baptism, additionally, marked the start of His public ministry, Rives said – the third key truth. 

Prior to this, "Jesus lived a relatively quiet life in Nazareth." 

"His baptism, however, signals the start of His mission. At this time, He begins to reveal Himself as the Savior through His teachings, healings, and, ultimately, His sacrifice for the sins of the world," Rives told Fox News Digital.

Jesus' baptism was more than just a ritual, Rives said. It was "a pivotal point where His redemptive work begins, leading to His death and resurrection." 

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The fourth of these key truths revealed in Christ's baptism, Rives said, is "the fullness of the Godhead presented: The Son is baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the Father's voice speaks from the heavens."

This, he said, is "a powerful scene, revealing God's plan for salvation, as the Father affirms the Son, the Spirit empowers the Son for His mission and the Son humbly submits to the Father's will."

Jesus' baptism is "a beautiful reminder" for Christians as well that they should "work together to present the Good News of the Gospel with the world."

The story of Christ's baptism is a view not only into "the heart of Jesus' ministry, but also the heart of the Gospel itself," Rives said.

"God's incredible love, His redemptive plan and His invitation for us to boldly proclaim our faith in Him – symbolized through the act of baptism," he said.

A soccer-loving nun from Brazil is believed to have become the world's oldest living person at nearly 117 years old, attributing her steadfast Catholic faith for her longevity.

LongeviQuest, an organization that tracks supercentenarians around the globe, released a statement on Saturday declaring Sister Inah Canabarro as the world's oldest person, validated by early life records.

The now-wheelchair-bound nun was crowned the world's oldest living person after Tomiko Itooka died in Japan at age 116 on Dec. 26, 2024.

Her nephew spends time with her every Saturday and sends her voice messages between visits to keep her spirits up after the elderly woman had two hospitalizations. 

"The other sisters say she gets a jolt when she hears my voice," he said. "She gets excited."

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Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908, to a large family in southern Brazil, according to LongeviQuest researchers. But her nephew said her birth was registered two weeks late and that she was actually born on May 27, 1908.

When she was a teenager, she turned to religious work and spent two years in Montevideo, Uruguay, before moving to Rio de Janeiro and eventually settling in her home state of Rio Grande do Sul.

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For her 110th birthday, she was honored by Pope Francis. She is the second-oldest nun ever documented after Lucile Randon, who was the world’s oldest person until her death in 2023 at age 118.

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Along with her commitment to her lifelong faith, she is devoted to local soccer club Inter. The club, which was founded after Canabarro's birth, celebrates her birthday every year as the oldest fan.

Her room is decorated with gifts in the team’s red and white colors, her nephew said.

"White or black, rich or poor, whoever you are, Inter is the team of the people," she said in a video posted on social media celebrating her 116th birthday with the club’s president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

"When Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, "As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God"'" (Hebrews 10:5-7).

These verses are from the New Testament's Epistle to the Hebrews. They're Jesus' first words at Christmastime, Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, told Fox News Digital. 

This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas. 

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Johnston is an elected member of the New Testament scholarly guild Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, president of the Christian Thinkers Society and pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Perstonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas area.

"The scriptures reveal a conversation between Jesus and God at His incarnation," he said. "Quoting Psalm 40:6-8, the author of Hebrews portrays the preexistent Christ speaking through the psalmist."  

Jesus' birth was during a time of "religious and political exhaustion," Johnston said. 

"Late Second Temple Judaism had expanded God's commandments into 613 laws of which 248 were positive ('do…') and 365 negative commands ('do not…')," he said.

This, he said, turned the practice of religious faith into a mechanical "burden of endless rules" that lacked heartfelt devotion. 

Additionally, the situation was bleak for most people living in the Roman Empire during Jesus' time, Johnston noted. 

The average life expectancy was just 20 years, he said — and about a quarter of the population was in dire need of medical attention.

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"As much as 40% of the population lived in slavery," Johnston said. "The much-celebrated 'Pax Romana' failed to deliver true peace." 

True peace was achieved in the world not through religious rituals or political power, but because Jesus followed God's will on behalf of humanity, he said. 

"His first recorded words, as echoed in Hebrews 10:7, reveal this mission: 'Then I said, "Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God."'" 

During Christmastime, "these words remind us that God desires wholehearted obedience, not empty rituals," he said. 

In the verse, the use of the phrase "in the scroll" is a show of Jesus' commitment to scripture, Johnston told Fox News Digital. 

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"From His first words to His final moments before death, Jesus consistently upheld the fulfillment of God's Word," he said. 

"Unlike the four Old Testament sacrifices mentioned in Hebrews, which often lacked accompanying faith, Jesus' sacrifice was voluntary and wholehearted." 

God, Johnston said, "repeatedly rejects hollow religious acts without sincere devotions." 

Unlike the animal sacrifices, "Jesus willingly gave His life to fulfill God's eternal will, as planned before the world's foundation," he said.

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This, he said, is evidence that "what God desires is not outward performance, but inward faithfulness," Johnston said. 

As the world prepares to celebrate the birth of God's son, people should "reflect on the deeper meaning of Jesus' words and actions," Johnston said. 

These verses, he said, "capture the essence of Jesus' mission." 

"Only through the incarnation could Jesus do away with sin and accomplish God's will in His death, burial and physical resurrection," he said. 

"His life reminds us that true worship involves heartfelt obedience, not hollow traditions — something we could never achieve on our own, without His atoning-help." 

During the last week of Advent and leading into Christmas, "may we follow Jesus' example by offering our lives in sincere devotion to God, magnifying His love and peace through our actions and relying on Him," he said.