Pope Francis has warned that plans by Donald Trump to deport illegal migrants from the US would be a “disgrace” if he went through with it.

Speaking to an Italian TV program from his Vatican residence, The Catholic Pontiff in an interview with an Italian TV, said if the plans went ahead, Trump would make “poor wretches that don’t have anything foot the bill”.

“That’s not right. That’s not how you solve problems,” he said.

In a message to Trump shared on Monday, Pope Francis offered him “cordial greetings” and urged him to lead a society with “no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion” and promote “peace and reconciliation among peoples”.