As Pope Leo XIV prepares for his inaugural mass, local immigration advocates in Arizona are expressing hope that the first American pope's background can usher in positive changes in immigration policy. According to ABC15, leaders from the Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) anticipate that Pope Leo XIV's unique understanding of the American and Latin American contexts will be impactful, particularly in Arizona's immigration landscape. "As we’re beginning to learn more about Pope Leo, we have someone who understands the American context and the Latin American context,” Joe Rubio, the director at Arizona Interfaith Network, told ABC15.
The new pontiff, a Chicago native who served as a missionary in Peru and has dual citizenship, has a background that resonates with both Americans and Peruvians. "From his parents and grandparents, he’s experienced that whole understanding of what it means to be an immigrant," Father Bob Fambrini, SJ, pastor at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and a leader with VIP, said in a statement obtained by ABC15. Phoenix's Peruvian community, in particular, feels a sense of kinship with Pope Leo, who is seen as a fellow countryman due to his time in and connection to Peru.
While the Valley's immigration advocates look toward the pope for advocacy and reform, metro Phoenix's Peruvians embrace the papal election on a more personal level, as reported by AZ Central. Cecilia Moersch, a resident of Gilbert and former administrator at the Peru Consulate General in Phoenix, shared an overwhelming feeling of honor as messages of excitement were exchanged among her Peruvian friends. The bond the pontiff has with his Peruvian diocese was also apparent in his Spanish-infused Italian address, where he referred to the people of Chiclayo as, "mi querida diócesis de Chiclayo en el Perú." This mention sparked joy for many in the community, including Francisco Jáuregui, a 16-year Phoenix resident who felt "united by heart with the new pope."
The new pope's past actions also speak to his perspective on migration issues. During his time in Peru, Pope Leo, then Cardinal Prevost, was known for his outreach in communities facing poverty and hardship, particularly in the northern coast city of Chiclayo. According to Mauro Farfán, who spoke to AZ Central, the pope's grassroots work has left him with an intimate understanding of the migrant experience. Sonia Farfán, deeply moved by the pope's simplicity, said, "He has known how to be a man of a lot of peace, a lot of — I believe — a lot of grace that God has given him." His wife, noting the pope's work with the deprived, expressed that, “That is what makes me have a really big admiration for him.”
As people from various walks of life and geographical origins find commonality and hope in the figure of Pope Leo XIV, the greater conversation and expectations around his influence on global issues, such as immigration, continue to surface. President Trump, who has expressed openness to meeting with the new pontiff on these issues, may find the support of Catholic voters challenged by Pope Leo's decidedly compassionate stance on migrant rights – mirroring the late Pope Francis. Father Bob Fambrini told ABC15 that Trump "Preaches a lot about how he won the Catholic vote. It would be good if he kind of understood and embraced what Catholic teaching was all about." With such multifaceted connections tying the pope to the Americas, his influence on both faith and policy will be closely watched by communities around the world.
