Pope Brings Pro-Migrant Message to Central America

At the start of a four-day visit to Panama, Pope Francis takes a step into the issue at the center of the U.S. government shutdown

Santiago Pérez and

José de Córdoba in Mexico City and

Francis X. Rocca in Rome

Jan. 24, 2019 7:00 a.m. ET

Pope Francis defended migrants at the start of his four-day trip to Central America on Thursday, taking up a fraught issue at the heart of the U.S. government shutdown as new caravans of thousands fleeing poverty and violence take form in the region.

The pope’s visit to Panama, which began the day before, highlights the crucial role the church has played in aiding thousands in the region on their trek northward to the U.S. border.

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