In the weeks after Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May 2025, a rumor spread on social media that he was sending priests to courthouses in solidarity with immigrants.
"Pope Leo is deploying priests to courthouses to stand in solidarity with immigrants as they exit their hearings — offering protection, support, and a watchful eye," one Threads post (archived) with the claim read. The post reached over 86,000 reactions, as of this writing.
(Threads user @creepyhorrorgal)
"Pope Leo XIV has called for priests, deacons and parish leaders to accompany migrants to court and stand in solidarity with them," an X post (archived) on the topic, with over 1.1 million views, read.
Similar claims spread on other social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Reddit, often featuring a letter attributed to the Diocese of San Diego.
In short, the rumors aren't exactly correct. According to local media reports, on June 20, 2025, World Refugee Day, about a dozen clergy did participate in both a special mass and a gathering outside the federal courthouse in San Diego, held in solidarity with migrants attending immigration hearings.
The letter circulating online allegedly came from Bishop-designate Michael Pham of the Diocese of San Diego, appointed by Pope Leo XIV earlier in 2025. In a letter dated June 11, 2025, Bishop Pham invited priests, deacons, and ministry leaders to join him at the federal courthouse on June 20.
We have not independently authenticated the letter, but it describes an event that did occur.
However, there was no evidence that Pope Leo XIV directly issued any instruction for this action, nor that he deployed priests in a broader, global or national context. No official Vatican communication references the courthouse action, and none of the outlets covering the San Diego event reported any involvement by the pope beyond having appointed Pham earlier that year.
We have reached out to the Holy See Press Office to clarify whether any formal directive was issued regarding the courthouse initiative and will update this report if we receive a response.
How the letter circulated online
It was unclear who first shared the aforementioned letter online. It seemingly first appeared in a June 11 article on the blog "The Deacon's Bench," created by Deacon Greg Kandra, which stated the letter was circulated in the Diocese of San Diego.
Kandra confirmed via email he received the letter from an unnamed source and uploaded it to his website after checking, unsuccessfully, for an official copy on the Diocese of San Diego's site. He added that the event described in the letter went forward as planned and was attended by numerous clergy in support of migrants. In fact, while Snopes has not independently verified the letter, its content was consistent with an event that occurred later.
The next day, Rich Raho, theology teacher at the DePaul College Prep, shared the letter on his X and Bluesky profile, writing, "Pope Leo's first US episcopal appointment, San Diego's Bishop-designate Pham, a Vietnamese refugee, invites priests and faith leaders to 'stand in solidarity' with migrants at courthouse on June 20, as they make court appearances."
As of this writing the letter was also not available on the Diocese of San Diego's website, The Roman Catholic Diocese of SAN DIEGO Facebook page, or Pham's Facebook profile. We have reached out to the Diocese of San Diego for a confirmation and will update this report if we receive a response.
In the letter, Pham reportedly wrote that the presence of faith leaders "makes a difference in how the migrants are treated," even if it does not change the legal outcome. "Being present will be a good way for us to give witness and stand with immigrants on a day in which, across the Diocese, we will all celebrate a mass at our various parishes dedicated to our immigrant brothers and sisters," the letter ended.
What happened at the San Diego courthouse
The event described in the letter actually took place. According to local media reports, including NBC San Diego, ABC 10 News, and the Episcopal News Service, about a dozen clergy, including Bishop Pham, attended both the mass and courthouse gathering. The Associated Press also reported on the event.
On June 21, 2025, ABC 10 News shared a video titled, "Religious leaders show solidarity during immigration hearings on National Refugee Day," featuring footage from the event and an interview with Bishop Pham. In the segment, Bishop Pham reflected on his own experience as a Vietnam War refugee and described the event as a moral act of solidarity.
"It gave me access to freedom that many countries in the world don't offer," he said of coming to the U.S.
"It is sad and disheartening to see these kinds of things playing out in our country today," he added. "We must treat every person with dignity and respect." According to the ABC 10 News report, Bishop Pham stated that he plans to attend more immigration hearings in the future.
Other rumors about Pope Leo XIV
Since the election of Pope Leo XIV, numerous rumors have circulated online about his past, statements and actions.
In mid-May 2025 we fact-checked whether he once said, "You cannot follow both Christ and the cruelty of kings. A leader who mocks the weak, exalts himself, and preys on the innocent is not sent by God. He is sent to test you. And many are failing." We have also debunked rumors that he played the trombone in a jazz band in the 1970s and '80s and was known in Chicago music circles as "Bobby Prev," and investigated a series of fake photographs showing him falling down stairs.