Spain wants the same immigration policy as the Vatican, says Vox party leader Santiago Abascal after Pope Leo XIV made a historic speech in the Spanish Congress where he called for, among other things, legalization of migrants and other open border policies.
Santiago was quick to respond, pointing the Vatican’s own impressive border fence, city walls, and strict immigration policy.
“In fact, I like the migration policy of the Vatican City State. If someone enters illegally with violence, they face a fine, prison, and an entry ban. I would like a similar migration policy for Spain,” said Abascal.
🇪🇸🔴Spain wants the same immigration policy as the Vatican, says VOX leader Santiago Abascal in response to the pope's latest call for open borders.
“In fact, I like the migration policy of the Vatican City State. If someone enters illegally with violence, they face a fine,… pic.twitter.com/en3YOBUYti
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 11, 2026There has been a long line of popes, including the late Francis, who advocated for open borders. Pope Leo XIV is now continuing this tradition.
“The tragic drama of migration also challenges the conscience of nations and the ethical foundation of the international order today,” said the pope during an appearance in the Spanish Congress on June 8.
He then called for “social justice to offer safe and legal pathways, a respectful welcome and real opportunities for integration.”
Vatican City has some of the strictest immigration, residency, and border controls in the world. It is, of course, a tiny nation state, measuring only 0.44 km² and has a population of roughly 800 people. However, it has extremely strict rules about immigration and citizenship, including large fines and prison time for those who illegally enter the country.
Perhaps the most glaring contradiction is that the Vatican is also heavily guarded by professionals, affording residents of the Vatican a large degree of security that Europeans could only dream of, especially due to worsening crime through mass immigration, a topic the pope does not address. For instance, the pope has never met with the many thousands of families and victims of immigration crime that have shattered lives across the European continent.
Despite its tiny size, the Vatican has 265 to 285 security members working to protect only 800 people. Critics of the pope say this security staff is there to address security realities that the pope appears to not fully understand, and which are already far worse in the countries where people have to live, work and send their children to school.
Other areas of hypocrisy involve the Catholic Church’s massive financial holdings, which are often used in the Catholic mission, but critics have also pointed to financial mismanagement, embezzlement, and opulent displays of wealth. The Vatican itself owns close to €80 billion in liquid assets, although many believe this is an underestimate. Overall, the figure balloons to hundreds of billions when real estate and other assets are included. The Vatican City itself owns up to €5.7 billion in liquid assets.
There is also the question of land controlled by the Church. The Vatican directly owns 4,051 properties in Italy and 1,120 abroad.
