India, April 21 -- Pope Francis reportedly criticised Donald Trump's mass deportations days before his death. The Trump critic, who died at 88, urged Catholics to reject anti-immigrant narratives.

Francis wrote in an open letter to American bishops in February that deporting people who come from difficult situations violates the "dignity of many men and women, and of entire families." The pope added that he had "followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations," and added that any policy built on force "begins badly and will end badly." Francis, who had been an advocate for migrants, called the issue a "shipwreck of civilization."

"At the same time, one mus...