In a recorded speech sent to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the pope urged Americans to engage in "a public debate marked by moderation, respect for the opinions of others, and a continuous effort to find common ground."
He also said that "successive waves of immigrants" have shaped the country's future.
The pope has criticized President Donald Trump several times in recent months for his hard line on immigration in the United States and for the war against Iran.
Trump, in turn, has called the pope "weak" when it comes to crime and "terrible" on foreign policy.
