Pope Leo, speaking on September 30, 2025, sharply criticised former U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration stance, questioning whether such policies align with the Catholic Church’s long-standing pro-life doctrine.
“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” the pontiff told reporters outside the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
The Catholic Church, with its 1.4 billion members, teaches that life is sacred from conception to natural death — a principle Pope Leo stressed must be applied consistently.
U.S. Politics and Church Tensions
The White House defended Trump’s record, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating: “He is keeping his promise to the American people,” referring to Trump’s mass deportation agenda that has divided voters nationwide.
Leo, the first American pope elected in May to succeed the late Pope Francis, has so far adopted a more reserved style than his predecessor. However, his remarks mark one of his most direct interventions in U.S. political debates to date.
The pope also addressed controversy surrounding the Archdiocese of Chicago’s decision to honor Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat known for supporting abortion rights. While conservative Catholics, including Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, objected strongly, Pope Leo urged Catholics to evaluate leaders holistically:
“It is very important to look at the overall work that the senator has done … Someone who says I am against abortion but says I am in favour of the death penalty is not really pro-life.”
Durbin Declines Award Amid Division
Senator Durbin, who announced he will not seek re-election in 2026 after nearly 30 years in the Senate, declined the Keep Hope Alive Award scheduled for November 3.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, expressing disappointment, clarified that the award recognized Durbin’s contribution to immigration reform and steadfast support of immigrant rights. He lamented the “dangerously deepening” divisions within the American Catholic community, calling them a tragedy.
A Broader Pro-Life Vision
By linking immigration, abortion, and the death penalty under the same moral framework, Pope Leo is signaling a broader interpretation of pro-life values, one that challenges both political and religious leaders to move beyond single-issue debates.
This marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church in the United States, as it navigates the intersection of faith, politics, and deeply polarizing social issues.
