Pope Leo XIV weighed in on the controversy around a potential lifetime achievement award being given to US Senator Dick Durbin saying “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,” to reporters.
This is the first time the pontiff has weighed in on US politics while echoing his predecessor, Pope Francis, which prompted heated responses from US Catholic figures.
The First American Pope on ‘Pro-Life’
Pope Francis divided the American Catholic Church with his adamant and confrontational style of leadership, which advocated for the right of the LGBTQ community and migrants while frequently criticizing rampant capitalism.
Many, especially conservative Catholics in the US, believed that Leo, the first American Pope in history would make a more reserved Pope, that is potentially more amiable towards their views. Over the weekend, however, the Pope spoke of US politics for the first time as Pontiff.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was set to receive a “Lifetime Achievement Award for support to immigrants” from Cardinal Blase Cupich, a supporter of Pope Leo XIV; this, however, was sharply criticized due to Durbin’s pro-abortion views. He later refused the award.
Of the 10 bishops who voiced criticism about the award, two (namely Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Bishop Thomas Paprocki) were appointed to be members of the Advisory Board to the Religious Liberty Commission, opposed Francis’ decisions as pontiff.
The Pope did not comment on the award, but praised Durbin’s service, adding that someone “pro-life” cannot oppose abortion but promote the death penalty, and asked whether it could be pro-life to support the “inhuman treatment of immigrant in the United States.”
Holy Year for Migrants and Missions
A Holy Year or Jubilee occurs every 25 years within the Catholic Church, allowing pilgrims to receive special indulgences by making pilgrimages and doing good deeds. Indulgences shorten the amount of time a soul resides in purgatory to cleanse their sins before ascending to heaven after death.
Holy Doors, symbolizing salvations for Catholics, are opened during Christmas time, allowing pilgrims to pass through to lessen their sins.
Ordinary Jubilees, like this one, were started by Pope Boniface in 1300. Extraordinary Jubilees are called to celebrate historic events or to support a social issue. The last extraordinary Holy Year was called by Pope Francis in 2016 to emphasize the Church as merciful and open, not detached.
The festivities allow more than 10,000 pilgrims from about 95 countries to pass through Holy Doors across the city of Rome to secure the remission of their sins.
Pope Leo XIV, having inherited the execution of the Holy Year 2025, has become more vocal in protecting migrant rights, even if that means taking a political stance.
On a special Jubilee Audience on St. Peter Square, he did not single out any specific countries but urged Catholics to “open our arms and hearts to them, welcoming them as brothers and sisters, and being for them a presence of consolation and hope” so that they are not treated with “the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination”.
An Anti-MAGA Stance Emerging?
The Pope’s comments were the first to condemn the Trump administration explicitly, but he has spoken in ideological opposition before.
During his first interview, he criticized huge CEO salaries, using Elon Musk as an example. He also took part in a climate change conference last week, where he called damaging the environment despising God’s creatures, indicating he hopes to follow Francis in advocating for action against climate change.
Despite harsh criticism and backlash, in the recently published biography, he stated “I’m trying not to continue to polarize or promote polarization in the church.”
The MAGA movement has now become wary of the Pope: political activist Jack Posobiec tweeted “Some popes are a blessing. Some popes are a curse,” while political commentator Matt Walsh called it a “terrible answer.”
“I would deny that there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “This administration is trying to enforce our country’s laws in the most humane way possible, and we abide by the law.”
Whether the Pope will continue to take the anti-MAGA stance is yet to be determined as he is beginning to find his voice after his ascension in May.
