Pope Francis, on Monday, offered well-wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump in a traditional message sent ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington.

The pontiff, who has previously expressed sharp disagreement with Mr Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, said he would pray that God grants Mr Trump “wisdom, strength, and protection” as he takes up the presidency again.

“I hope that under your leadership the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination, or exclusion,” said the pope.

Mr Francis, leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church since 2013, has used unusually forceful language in criticising Mr Trump in recent years.

The pope’s congratulatory note came a day after Mr Francis said Mr Trump’s reported plan to sharply intensify immigration enforcement actions across the U.S. would be a “disgrace.”

In an Italian television interview on Sunday, the pontiff said the plan would “make the migrants, who have nothing, pay the unpaid bill.”

Mr Trump administration officials said on Saturday that the president was reconsidering plans, opening a new tab for immigration raids in Chicago, following reports about the plans.

During the 2016 election campaign, Mr Francis said Mr Trump was “not Christian” because of his views on immigration. 

(Reuters/NAN)