As the first American pope, Leo XIV has largely avoided speaking out about domestic politics in the United States.
He waded into controversy, however, by commenting on the Archdiocese of Chicago's plan to honor U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who has represented Illinois since 1997, with a lifetime achievement award for his work on immigration issues. Some Catholic critics were opposed to Durbin, who has supported the right to a legal abortion, receiving such an award - and he ultimately declined it.
On Sept. 30, 2025, when reporters in Italy asked about the situation, Leo said, "It's important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the church."
"Someone who says I'm against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life," he said. "And someone who says I'm against abortion but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life."
In American politics, being "pro-life" is often equated with being opposed to abortion. But as Leo's comments highlight, it's not so simple.
