Illinois Senator Dick Durbin expressed that he was “overwhelmed” by Pope Leo XIV's backing this week, following a contentious fallout over an award from the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The award, intended to honor Durbin for his immigration advocacy, sparked significant backlash from conservative circles due to his pro-abortion-rights stance.

During a press interaction, the Pope, who hails from the Chicago area and has participated in elections featuring Durbin, emphasized the importance of evaluating a politician's broader contributions. “It’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done,” Pope Leo XIV remarked, advocating a comprehensive view over a singular issue focus.

In a pointed comment that resonated with many, the pontiff critiqued the narrow interpretation of pro-life values, stating, “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.” This statement comes as a defense of Durbin’s extensive work with immigrants, including his pivotal role in co-authoring the DREAM Act, which proposes a legal status pathway for undocumented minors in the U.S.

Despite the Pope's support, Durbin decided to decline the award, aiming to alleviate the pressure on Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, who faced intense criticism for his decision to honor the senator. “There was a lot of controversy after he made that decision and criticism of him, and I basically told him that I respectfully decline the award,” Durbin explained. He added that neither he nor Archbishop Cupich needed the added controversy.

The decision to honor Durbin had been vocally condemned by at least 10 U.S. bishops and numerous anti-abortion advocates, highlighting the deep divisions within the church and the political sphere regarding abortion and other social issues.

As Senator Durbin approaches retirement next year after over four decades of service, the support from Pope Leo XIV underscores a significant moment of affirmation for his long-standing advocacy efforts, despite the polarized responses from various quarters.