Aboard papal plane — Pope Francis says leaders who want walls and other barriers to keep migrants out “will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build”. The pope said this on the papal plane on Sunday returning from Morocco in response to a question about migration and US President Donald Trump’s threat to shut down the southern border with Mexico. “Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build,” he said. Francis, who did not mention Trump, has sparred with the US president before about migration, which was a theme of several questions on the plane as well as during the trip to Morocco. Trump has declared a national emergency to justify redirecting money earmarked for the military to pay for his promised US-Mexico border wall. “I realise that with this problem (of migration), a government has a hot potato in its hands, but it must be resolved differently, humanely, not with razor wire,” the pope said. He told M...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.