Priest denies Vatican walls despite clear historical evidence

The statement from Father James Martin, known for his advocacy of gay rights, emerged as a response to those highlighting the contradiction between Pope Francis’s criticism of U.S. immigration policies and the Vatican’s own secure borders.

Dear Internet: No, the Vatican is not a walled city. And yes, the Catholic Church cares for millions of refugees.
First, while there are still ancient walls (some retaining walls) surrounding parts of the Vatican, the Vatican open to everyone. Here's a photo I took in October. pic.twitter.com/JGMG4eOo7k

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) February 13, 2025

Historical records show that Pope Leo IV commissioned the construction of the imposing 40-foot walls after Saracen forces devastated Old St. Peter’s Basilica in 846 AD. Initially enclosing the entire Vatican hill in what became known as the Leonine City, the walls were later modified to encompass today’s 110-acre Vatican City.

The contemporary fortification extends for two miles, completely encircling the territory. While St. Peter’s Square and Basilica remain accessible to visitors, entry into other areas of the Vatican requires passing through security checkpoints staffed by armed Swiss Guards.

Martin’s architectural assertions came amid backlash to the Pope’s recent letter addressing American bishops regarding U.S. immigration policy and J.D. Vance’s defense of it using the Catholic principle of ordo amoris.

In his correspondence, Francis challenged the notion of equating illegal migration with criminal behavior. This stance appears at odds with the Vatican’s own stricter border regulations, which impose substantial penalties – including fines and imprisonment – for unauthorized entry.

The pontiff specifically contested Vance’s application of ordo amoris, which supports governments prioritizing their citizens’ welfare. “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” the pope declared. “In other words: the human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings!”

“The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception,” he stated.

The Pope’s ambiguous message and specific criticism of Vance has prompted questions about his selective reproach of Catholic politicians, particularly his silence regarding Joe Biden’s significant departures from Church doctrine.

Ed Condon, writing for The Pillar Catholic, observed that despite Biden’s frequent references to his Catholic faith, “no papal corrective came for his full-throated defense of and federal funding for abortion.”

Condon suggested the Pope’s intervention might be viewed as “a sign of partisanship, that only Catholic politicians of certain stripes, be it called ‘right-wing,’ ‘conservative,’ ‘MAGA’ or anything else, merit ecclesiastical rebuke.”