(Getty)
Pope Francis continued on to "ask God to guide your efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation among peoples" amid "numerous challenges" and "the scourge of war."
"With these sentiments," Pope Francis continued, "I invoke upon you, your family, and the beloved American people an abundance of divine blessings."
BIDEN AWARDS POPE FRANCIS WITH HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR, PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, OVER THE PHONE
Pope Francis criticized Trump's deportation policy just one day prior, saying Sunday on an evening television program, "If true, this will be a disgrace."
"This won’t do. This is not the way to solve things. That’s not how things are resolved," the pope said of Trump's planned deportations.
President-elect Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
"This phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines people’s sense of security, and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations. Tragic examples of this are the attacks on the chairman of the government of the Slovak Republic and the president-elect of the United States of America," he said.
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Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw, Gabriel Hays and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Haley Chi-Sing is a Writer for Fox News Digital. You can reach her at @haleychising on X.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pope-francis-extends-prayers-cordial-greetings-trump-ahead-inaugural-ceremony