Pope Leo is drawing criticism from some U.S. Catholics over his consistent pro-life ethic, particularly after responding to questions about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, despite Durbin’s support for abortion rights.

While he said he was not familiar with all the details, Pope Leo expressed confidence in Cardinal Cupich’s judgment and emphasized that being truly “pro-life” means opposing not only abortion but also the death penalty and the “inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell notes on “Inside the Vatican” that the pope’s “honeymoon period” appears to have ended as he speaks his mind on church teaching.

Links:

Pope Leo pleads for a just peace as cease-fire in Gaza holds:
https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2025/10/12/pope-leo-peace-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestine/
Pope Leo tells border bishop: The American church needs ‘to be united’ on migration:
https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2025/10/08/pope-leo-bishop-seitz-migrants-deportations/
Pope Leo is finding his voice on migration:
https://www.americamagazine.org/short-take/2025/10/02/pope-leo-migrants-refugees/
Pope Leo ice blessing sets off social media meltdown:
https://www.americamagazine.org/dispatches/2025/10/14/pope-leo-social-media-papal-ice-blessing-climate-change/

Producers: Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J.
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Audio and video engineering: Kevin Christopher Robles
Production assistance: Will Gualtiere

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