A lifetime achievement award being presented by a cardinal in Chicago set off a chain of statements that forced the Donald Trump administration to assure the public that illegal immigrants are and will continue to be treated with humanity. This came right after Pope Leo XIV made his first foray into contemporary US politics.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, 80, recently announced that once his term ends in 2027, he will not seek reelection. In celebration of Durbin’s lifetime of support for the rights of migrants, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago offered him a lifetime achievement award; Durbin has since rejected it. However, the award has sparked a debate that quickly reached the White House and the Vatican.
Sen. Durbin isn’t just well known for his protection of migrant rights and for reigning in FBI Director Kash Patel — but also for his pro-choice stance. According to NPR, fellow Illinois Bishop Thomas Paprocki was the first to raise an alarm, citing Durbin’s pro-abortion views. Bishop Paprocki has reportedly denied the senator communion since 2004 over the issue.
The pope is currently still in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, but he was still approached by the press to discuss the matter. The pope was quick to clarify that he’s not too familiar with the matter, but he was under the impression that Durbin was offered the award for his “overall work.” When pressed about Durbin’s pro-choice stance, the pope answered with poise, saying, “Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. 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.”
BREAKING: Pope Leo today: "Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life." pic.twitter.com/AH0qgcbfrx
— John-Henry Westen (@JhWesten) September 30, 2025
Trump has propped himself up as a defender of Christian values since his foray into politics. He credits Christianity when celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and he claims London lost its luster once its demographics shifted from Christianity to alleged “sharia law.” So the pope coming out and questioning his policies as not just un-Christian but “inhumane” is a blow to MAGA.
When asked about the pope’s comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave a measured response. She said: “I would reject that there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration. There was, however, significant inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration as they were being trafficked and raped and beaten, in many cases killed, over our United States southern border.”
BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Karoline Leavitt said she disagrees with the Pope's criticism of "inhumane treatment of immigrants" in America, defending the cruel policies of Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, and Trump.
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) October 1, 2025
The Pope has way more credibility.pic.twitter.com/EIGhNTyV6d
Trump has already been making memes of the pope that have been viewed as disrespectful in Catholic quarters. So despite his usual mudslinging style, the White House likely found it easier to blame Joe Biden than attack the papacy in a way that betrays disrespect. One major difference between Trump’s first and second terms has been how he carefully picks his adversaries — always targeting someone with less power and influence than him.
Leavitt’s comments, however, should be welcomed. Hopefully, this rejection of inhumane treatment extends to fewer allegations of 5-year-olds being used as bait and fewer punches thrown at suspects by ICE agents.
Published: Oct 2, 2025 12:12 pm