
<p>It seems the American press corps has once again proven that politics trumps accuracy in the Fourth Estate. In recent remarks, Pope Leo, the relatively new occupant of the papal throne, weighed in on the ever contentious issue of U.S. immigration. His remarks were clear, balanced, and nuanced. That is precisely why the leftâleaning media immediately stripped them of clarity, balance and nuance.</p>



<p>The headlines screamed that Pope Leo had rebuked Trump’s deportation policies. Why? Because he said immigrants should be “treated humanely.” Stop the presses! A Pope calling for humane treatment of people? Who could have seen that coming? Apparently, this was breaking news to the media class, who rushed to interpret it as a papal slap across Trump’s face.</p>



<p>But here’s the problem. The Pontiff did not stop there. He also said, “No one has said the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter.” That is not exactly the rallying cry of the “Abolish ICE” crowd. In fact, it sounds suspiciously like something you might hear at a Republican convention. The Pope even emphasized that people can be treated with dignity through the American courts and justice system. Translation: Yes, enforce the law, but do it fairly. Not exactly the left’s dream of borderless utopia.</p>



<p>Yet, the media conveniently ignored that part. Why let a little context get in the way of a good narrative? This is what critics once called media bias “yellow journalism.” Today, they have upgraded the branding to “fake news.” (Probably because no one under age 60 is familiar with the term “yellow journalism”).</p>



<p>What really throws the press for a loop is that Pope Leo is not the progressive darling they were hoping for. They are used to pontiffs who lean left on social issues, who can be counted on to echo their worldview. But Leo? He’s an American Pope with a relatively conservative streak. That alone is enough to send left-wing editorial boards into apoplexy.</p>



<p>The only hint of his politics &#8212; if you dig into his personal history &#8212; is his former registration as a Republican. His brothers are openly Trump supporters. The man who floor managed Leo’s rise to the papacy was New York’s Cardinal Dolan—one of the most conservative members of the College of Cardinals. Put all that together, and you don’t exactly get a Vatican endorsement for a radical left-wing agenda.</p>



<p>The irony here is that Pope Leo’s remarks were actually a model of common sense. He acknowledged the moral obligation to treat people with dignity. He also affirmed the sovereign right of nations to control their borders. None of that is radical. It is common sense.  ;But common sense doesn’t sell papers, attract viewers or drive clicks. Outrage does. And so, the media dutifully manufactured outrage &#8212; presenting Leo as the latest celebrity critic of Trump.</p>



<p>The truth is that Democrats and their media allies have engaged in giving a completely wrong impression of the Pope’s remarks. They wanted a progressive Pope to weaponize against conservatives. Instead, they got a Pope who sounds a lot like the average American voter—concerned about fairness, but also about law and order.</p>



<p>So, what do we learn from this episode? First, that the media’s ability to distort is alive and well. Second, that Pope Leo is not the left’s ally in their crusade for open borders. And third, that “fake news” is not just an empty slogan.</p>



<p>In the end, Pope Leo’s message was simple. ; Treat people humanely but respect the rule of law. It is a message that should resonate across the political spectrum. But in the echo chamber of partisan journalism, only half the message made it through. The rest was lost in translation—or more accurately, deliberately discarded.</p>



<p>Pope Leo spoke with precision and clarity. The press responded with spin. And the truth, as usual, was the casualty.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Pope Leo, Immigration, and Media Bias
