Pope Francis on Sunday condemned President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to launch a sweeping migrant deportation program immediately after taking office, calling it a “disgrace” and urging a more humane approach to immigration.

In an interview with Italian television, the pontiff spoke out against Trump’s proposed actions, saying, “If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill for the imbalance.”

He continued, “It won’t do. This is not the way to solve things,” according to a CNN translation.

Trump has made clear his intention to enact one of the most aggressive deportation programs in U.S. history, vowing to remove undocumented immigrants on his first day in office.

Speaking in October, he promised, “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out.”

Trump reiterated this vow at a rally on Sunday, just one day before his inauguration, saying, “By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt.”

Reports indicate that Trump plans to take immediate executive action upon assuming office.

Politico revealed that he is set to sign an executive order declaring a crisis at the southern border, while The Wall Street Journal reported that deportation raids are scheduled for Chicago as early as Tuesday.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, also expressed strong opposition to the plan, particularly the impact it could have on communities in his city.

“While we wish the new administration success in promoting the common good, the reports being circulated of planned mass deportations targeting the Chicago area are not only profoundly disturbing but also wound us deeply,” he said in a statement.

Cupich further emphasized that indiscriminate deportations would be “an affront to the dignity of all people and communities, and deny the legacy of what it means to be an American.”

This latest criticism from Pope Francis is not the first time he has spoken out against Trump’s immigration policies.

In 2016, when Trump first announced plans to build a border wall, the pope criticized the idea, saying, “A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

Two years later, in 2018, the pontiff denounced the Trump administration’s family separation policy, calling it “contrary to our Catholic values” and “immoral.”

In 2019, Pope Francis responded to Trump’s threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border by saying, “Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build.”

While acknowledging that immigration is a complex issue, the pope has consistently advocated for more humane solutions, stressing that it should be addressed “humanely, not with razor wire.”

The pope’s remarks came just hours before Trump was set to take office, marking a continuation of the religious leader’s vocal stance on the importance of compassion and dignity for migrants.

As the new administration prepares to enact its controversial immigration policies, Pope Francis’ comments offer a stark contrast to Trump’s approach, underscoring the deep divisions within U.S. political and moral debates surrounding immigration and border security.

While Trump has continued to press forward with his hardline stance on immigration, including his vow to address what he calls the “crisis” at the southern border, the pope and other critics maintain that such policies fail to account for the humanity of those seeking refuge and a better life in the United States.

The debate over immigration in the U.S. is set to intensify in the coming months as the Trump administration moves forward with its plans, with religious and political leaders continuing to weigh in on the issue.