Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) expressed feeling “overwhelmed” on Wednesday after receiving unexpected support from Pope Leo XIV following some backlash regarding his stance on abortion rights.
“That’s really something,” Durbin remarked. “I wasn’t prepared for it. It’s a significant moment.” He seemed genuinely surprised by the Pope’s backing.
Initially, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago had intended to honor Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts on immigration. However, this plan faced criticism from American bishops due to Durbin’s pro-abortion stance.
“The Senator consistently supports pro-abortion policies and does not favor measures to protect the fetus,” a bishop stated in a post on a social media platform. “That goes against the core moral values of the Catholic Church.”
Durbin acknowledged that the “level of controversy” was unexpected and ultimately chose to turn down the award following Cupich’s announcement.
However, the Pope later spoke up in defense of Durbin. “Those who claim, ‘I’m against abortion, yet I’m okay with the death penalty’ aren’t genuinely pro-life,” Leo commented. He added that statements against abortion paired with indifferent attitudes toward the treatment of immigrants reflect a struggle to grasp the true meaning of life.
At one point, Leo remarked, “We shouldn’t overlook the overall contributions Durbin has made over his four decades in the Senate.” Following this defense, Durbin reiterated to NBC News that he still felt it was best to decline the award.
“I understood there might be some negative feedback, but the extent of the backlash convinced me it’s better not to accept,” he explained.
It’s worth noting that Cupich was a close advisor to Pope Francis, the previous pontiff, who also opposed abortion but criticized the way some American bishops politicized the issue.
