Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives for his weekly normal viewers in St. Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican on Oct.1, 2025.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Gregorio Borgia/AP
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians have to be judged on the total vary of their coverage positions and suggesting that the nation’s therapy of immigrants is “inhuman.”
“Somebody who says I am in opposition to abortion however is in favor of the dying penalty just isn’t actually pro-life,” Pope Leo mentioned. “And somebody who says I am in opposition to abortion however I am in settlement with the inhuman therapy of immigrants in the US, I do not know if that is pro-life.”
The remarks signify the primary American pope’s first foray as pontiff into his native nation’s pitched debates over abortion, immigration and the Catholic Church’s function in civil society.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was requested concerning the Pope’s feedback on Wednesday.
“I might reject there may be inhumane therapy of unlawful immigrants in the US below this administration,” Leavitt informed reporters on the White Home. “There was, nevertheless, important, inhumane therapy of unlawful immigrants within the earlier administration as they have been being trafficked and raped and overwhelmed, in lots of instances killed over our United States southern border.”
Earlier than he was elected Pope on Might 8, Leo — then often known as Cardinal Robert Prevost — shared articles on social media that have been crucial of the Trump administration’s rhetoric and insurance policies on immigration.
A papal press gaggle
The Pope’s transient remarks got here in response to questions from reporters who gathered exterior of his summer time residence in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday night.
One reporter requested the Chicago-born pontiff concerning the controversy over plans to honor Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award by a Catholic establishment — regardless of the Illinois lawmaker’s assist for abortion rights.
Leo mentioned he wasn’t “very aware of the case,” however he mentioned the award was a recognition of Durbin’s “general work” throughout greater than 40 years of service in Congress.
“I perceive the issue and the tensions. However I believe as I personally have spoken up to now, it is vital to think about many points associated to the educating of the Church,” mentioned Leo.
The pope urged folks concerned within the U.S. — and his native state of Illinois — to “have respect for each other” whereas reminding trustworthy that the educating of the Catholic Church on these points is “very clear.”
On Sept. 22, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich introduced he can be presenting Durbin with the award on the upcoming Maintain Hope Alive gala in acknowledgment of Durbin’s assist for migrants.
Critics, together with Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, the place Durbin lives, condemned the award due to the senator’s previous assist for abortion rights. Paprocki has denied Communion for Durbin since 2004.
Durbin, whose fifth time period within the Senate ends in January of 2027, has mentioned that he is not going to search re-election.
Shortly after the pope’s remarks, Cupich issued a press release asserting Durbin has declined to obtain the award.
“Whereas I’m saddened by this information, I respect his resolution,” wrote the cardinal, who harassed that the award was in recognition of “his unwavering assist of immigrants, which is so wanted in our day.”
Cupich additionally lamented the rising partisan divide inside the U.S., which he mentioned leaves Catholics “politically homeless.” Whereas church educating bars honoring politicians who assist insurance policies opposite to Catholic doctrine, he mentioned no chief constantly embodies Catholic social educating.
“Complete condemnation just isn’t the way in which ahead, for it shuts down dialogue,” the cardinal mentioned.
This story was produced by means of a collaboration between NPR and Faith Information Service.
