Pope Leo XIV, in a rare incursion into American political discourse, voiced support for the decision by the Chicago Archdiocese to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award for his efforts in immigration reform. This support comes amidst backlash from anti-abortion advocates due to Durbin's pro-choice stance. The award was set to be presented at the November 3 "Keep Hope Alive" event, but Durbin has since declined to accept it.

Archbishop Blase Cupich, responding to Durbin's decision, expressed his respect for the senator's choice while reiterating the award's focus on Durbin's immigration work, not his abortion views. "The decision to present him an award was specifically in recognition of his singular contribution to immigration reform," Cupich stated, highlighting the necessity of such efforts today.

The controversy has also seen criticism from Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, who previously denied Durbin the Eucharist due to his abortion stance, and from nine other bishops. They argue that honoring Durbin could mislead the faithful on the Church’s teachings on life.

Pope Leo, however, urged a broader perspective on political figures, emphasizing the complexity of aligning with Church teachings across various issues. "It’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate," he explained to reporters, including those from EWTN News.

Furthermore, the Pope challenged the consistency of those who claim to be pro-life but support policies like the death penalty or harsh treatment of immigrants. "Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life," he argued.

Durbin, a long-time advocate for immigrant rights and a co-author of the DREAM Act, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2026. His office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Pope’s statements or the award.

Pope Leo, a native of the Chicago area and a voter in Illinois as recently as last year, also touched on the broader ethical challenges and political partisanship affecting how Church teachings are interpreted and applied. "They are very complex issues and I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them," he stated, calling for mutual respect and collaborative pursuit of ethical solutions among Americans and Catholics alike.

The Pope's comments highlight ongoing tensions within the Church between theology and political allegiance, underscoring the challenges of navigating such waters in today's highly partisan environment.