To summarize, the Chicago Archdiocese awarded Sen. Durbin for his work on immigration, which some criticized because of the senator's stance on abortion. Pope Leo was asked about the issue and first and foremost called for respect, and also said to recognize the complexity and tension of the issues and to look at more issues than just abortion.
Notable quote:
“Someone who says I am against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. 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.”
He also expressed concern over Pete Hegseth's recent rhetoric and the renaming of the Department of Defense.
Posted by PlayerAssumption77
12 Comments
Source: [America Magazine](https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/09/30/pope-leo-sen-durbin-abortion-immigration-cupich/)
This Pope seems like a cool guy.
https://preview.redd.it/becldlso6isf1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad65be18705bee8b9f0d05fbd98f8471517b0c04
A decent man as pope, did anyone have that on their end of the world bingo card?
I mean he’s not wrong.
Bought my mum a load of pope merchandise when I went to Chicago over the summer and I’m seeing it more and more as money well spent tbh.
The Vatican will not change their stance on pro-life but people need to remember that pro-life is not just about abortion – it’s about the mistreatment of all humans. It’s about genocide and the right to live. But some people don’t get that :/
Good job Pope. I appreciate seeing slow progress in the right direction
This guy gets it.
If you’re against abortion you’re not really pro-life full stop, restricting abortion access kills women and girls. I appreciate the sentiment with regards to immigration though.
Wish this guy was the leader of America instead. I don’t know much about him but he seems like an improvement
Sometimes I think people still haven’t truly gotten how cosmically wild it is that the Catholic Church elected two progressive Popes back to back.
(Progressive in the sense that they still operate within the confines of the Catholic Church, of course.)
It’s no different from people being pro life and in favor of the death penalty. They’re fine with ending a human life, I guess it’s all in the timing.