Fox Contributor Accuses Chicago Mayor of ‘Misusing’ Papal Hospitality After Vatican Meeting on Immigration
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo sharply criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) on Friday, accusing the mayor of “misusing” the hospitality of Pope Leo XIV during a contentious meeting at the Vatican.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Arroyo reacted to the Thursday audience between Johnson, the pontiff, and a delegation of Chicago leaders. The mayor told reporters afterward that the discussion touched on the pope’s recent remarks about the Church’s historical role in slavery and President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics.
“We did talk about ICE. He wanted to know how ICE was impacting our city and whether there were still examples of ICE raids happening here,” Johnson said.
But Arroyo offered a far darker interpretation, arguing that Johnson was trying to “recruit the pope” to shield himself from criticism over spiraling violence and sanctuary-city policies.
“What the mayor is trying to do, Ainsley, is recruit the pope and wash his own negligence and terrible policies in Chicago by proximity,” Arroyo told host Ainsley Earhardt.
He went on to question the substance of the discussion. “Wait a minute — ICE is law enforcement. They’re enforcing retainers, trying to collect people with criminal records or expired visas. That’s the law. If you don’t like it, change it. But you can’t obstruct it, and that’s what Mayor Brandon does daily.”
Arroyo noted that Johnson leads a community activist network that alerts residents when ICE agents arrive. “And again, he’s trying to wrap it in the papacy,” he said.
The conservative commentator warned Vatican officials to be more cautious about granting private audiences to local politicians. “I’d urge them to be very careful — they’re misusing his hospitality. The pope met with them for an hour. I know they’re all from Chicago, but it makes it look like the pope is endorsing these policies.”
Arroyo painted a grim picture of the city under Johnson’s leadership. “When the mayor says he told the pope Chicago is strong and transforming — it’s transforming, Ainsley, into Gotham City. Seven thousand people shot in the last three years. It’s a killing field every weekend. To claim the pope is somehow endorsing this is really nefarious on the part of the mayor, and it’s a shame it happened.”
The clash underscores broader tensions between the Biden-allied Democratic mayor and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, even as the new pontiff has signaled a more cautious approach to political entanglements. Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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This article has been updated to reflect the original report from Mediaite.