U.S. Cardinals Criticize Trump’s Foreign Policy in Joint Statement
From right, U.S. Cardinals, Joseph Tobin of Newark, and Blase Cupich of Chicago, attend a press conference at the North American College in Rome on May 9, 2025. Along with Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington (not pictured), the men issued a strongly worded statement on Monday criticizing the Trump administration’s foreign policy. Gregorio Borgia/AP
In an unprecedented move, the leading figures of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States have taken a public stand against the current U.S. administration’s foreign policy. On Monday, Cardinals Blase Cupich, Robert McElroy, and Joseph Tobin released a joint statement raising moral concerns about America’s role on the global stage.
The statement, though not naming President Trump directly, challenges the policies that are perceived as undermining the core values of life, dignity, and liberty. “Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” the cardinals asserted. They expressed dismay over the reduction of peace-building efforts to “partisan categories that encourage polarization and destructive policies.”
Highlighting recent geopolitical tensions in regions such as Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland, the cardinals emphasized the urgent need to reconsider the use of military force. “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance,” they stated.
The White House has yet to provide any comments regarding the cardinals’ statement. The religious leaders’ critique echoes sentiments shared by Pope Leo XIV, who recently addressed diplomats about the dangers of a diplomacy based on force. The Pope lamented the resurgence of war as a method of asserting dominance, warning that it poses a grave threat to the rule of law and peaceful coexistence.
Cardinal Cupich, reflecting on the inspiration behind their statement, said, “As pastors entrusted with the teaching of our people, we cannot stand by while decisions are made that condemn millions to lives trapped permanently at the edge of existence. Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”
