Pope Leo XIV has weighed in on a debate within the U.S. Church, offering a perspective that challenges Catholics to think more broadly about what it means to defend life. His comments came in response to the controversy surrounding Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to honor Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a Catholic politician who supports abortion rights but has also long championed immigrant causes.
Speaking on Tuesday, Pope Leo emphasized the need for consistency in Catholic moral witness. “Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” he said. He continued: “Someone who says that ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” according to AP News.
While not entering directly into the dispute over the award, Pope Leo nevertheless urged Catholics to engage one another with charity. “I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them,” he remarked, “but I would ask first and foremost that there be greater respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings… as well as Catholics to say we need to really look closely at all of these ethical issues and to find the way forward in this church” (AP News).
The Holy Father noted that Catholic teaching is clear: abortion and the death penalty are both grave moral wrongs, and migrants must be treated with dignity and compassion. Pope Francis, in 2018, formally declared the death penalty “inadmissible” in all circumstances. The Vatican and U.S. bishops have also spoken consistently about the biblical mandate to “welcome the stranger.”
Cardinal Cupich had announced that Sen. Durbin would receive a lifetime achievement award for his work supporting immigrants. The choice sparked objections from conservative bishops, including Springfield’s Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who has barred Durbin from Communion since 2004 due to his abortion stance. After the controversy intensified, Durbin declined the award.
In his statement, Cardinal Cupich lamented that Catholics in the U.S. often feel “politically homeless,” as neither major party fully reflects the breadth of Catholic moral teaching (AP News). He explained that the award could have been an opportunity for dialogue: “It could be an invitation to Catholics who tirelessly promote the dignity of the unborn, the elderly, and the sick to extend the circle of protection to immigrants facing in this present moment an existential threat to their lives and the lives of their families.”
The episode highlights the challenge facing Catholics in American political life. Pope Leo’s words echo the broader vision of the Church: that to be “pro-life” is not only to defend the unborn, but to safeguard the dignity of every person, including immigrants, the elderly, the sick, and even those convicted of crimes.
As the Holy Father reminded the faithful, these are not isolated issues but part of one consistent moral framework. For Catholics, the Gospel calls for a seamless commitment to life, rooted in respect, compassion, and unity.
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