Pope Leo decries migrants being treated 'worse than house pets'

By Joshua McElwee

ABOARD ‌THE PAPAL ​FLIGHT, ​April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Leo on Thursday decried the world's treatment of immigrants, saying that often ‌migrants and refugees seeking to escape violence ⁠or poverty are considered "worse than house pets or animals," in ‌unusually strong remarks on the ‌issue.

Leo, who has been a critic of U.S. President Trump's hardline immigration policies, called for humane ​treatment of immigrants while on his flight back to Rome after a four-nation Africa tour.

"They are ⁠human beings and we have to treat human beings in a humanitarian ​way and not treat them worse … than house pets or animals," the pope said ​in a press conference.

Leo, the ‌first U.S. pope, did not mention any specific country in his remarks on Thursday.

The ⁠pope has previously questioned whether the Trump administration's hardline policies are in line with the Catholic Church's strict pro-life ⁠teachings, in remarks that drew sharp criticism from conservative U.S. ​Catholics.

Leo said on Thursday that countries have a right to control their borders. He urged richer nations to help develop ‌the countries that migrants are leaving, so they do not feel the need to ‌leave.

"What are richer countries doing to change the ⁠situation for poorer countries?" ‌he asked. "And why ​can't we seek … to change the situations in (those) countries?"

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee, editing by Deepa ‌Babington)

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