VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV’s key adviser and the Vatican’s secretary of state, described the deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis as “unacceptable,” as a growing number of Catholic prelates in the United States have spoken against immigration enforcement operations in the country.
“The Holy See’s position is always that of avoiding any type of violence, obviously, so we cannot accept episodes such as these,” Parolin told journalists on Wednesday (Jan. 28) as he left a conference titled “Ethics and Economics,” organized by the LUMSA University in Rome.
Two U.S. citizens were killed by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis this month, leading some bishops in the country to issue appeals for restraint and respect for human dignity. Catholics on the ground have also mobilized and organized vigils, Masses and gatherings to condemn the killings.
“Issues, problems, contradictions should be resolved in other ways,” said Parolin, echoing the statements of several prelates in the U.S.
In November, Pope Leo spoke against the “vilification” of migrants, adding that there are legal and judicial means to address the presence of people living in the U.S. illegally. But the Chicago-born pope has not spoken out specifically against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or the recent Minneapolis incidents.
Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, left, leave the Quirinale Presidential Palace in Rome, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Trump administration has invited the Holy See to join the “Board of Peace,” an initiative promoted by President Donald Trump that he has said would focus on postwar reconstruction in Gaza and would require a $1 billion participation fee for permanent members. “We need to think about it a little,” Parolin said, amid pushback from some Catholic clergy over the possibility that the Vatican might join the board on which Trump is a member for life. Parolin said there were some “critical issues” that had to be considered before issuing a response.
The cardinal’s comments came as he returned from a visit to Denmark, where he met with Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and discussed the ongoing situation in Greenland, which Trump has said he wants to acquire despite being a NATO ally.
“Without getting into the details, I think they are moving toward a solution, an agreement,” Parolin said, adding that he had also spoken to Lutheran clergy in the country regarding the situation. “Let’s hope this is the case.”
