Pope Leo Elevates Chicago Cardinal Cupich After Conservative Backlash

Conservatives tried to cancel him. Pope Leo just promoted him.

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Less than two weeks after some on the Catholic right attacked Cardinal Blase Cupich for planning to honor a pro-choice politician for his immigration work, Pope Leo XIV has given the Chicago prelate an additional high-profile assignment in Rome — widely seen as a papal vote of confidence.

Last week, Pope Leo named Cupich to the commission responsible for governing Vatican City State.

The Oct. 16 appointment came just two weeks after Cupich and the Chicago Archdiocese drew fire for plans to honor U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin for his work on immigration.

Leo XIV pointedly backed Cupich’s broader pro-life vision. Responding to reporters on Sept. 30, the pope stressed that abortion alone was not sufficient to judge a person’s pro-life record.

Someone who opposes abortion but supports the death penalty or the “inhuman treatment of immigrants” cannot claim to be truly pro-life, Leo insisted.

For those who have followed Cupich’s ministry, the pope’s approval comes as no surprise. Cupich has long been one of the U.S. Church’s strongest voices for a consistent ethic of life.

He vocally opposed former President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration tactics. When federal agents’ raids tore apart families in Chicago, Cupich said such actions “wound the soul of our city,” declaring that “the Church stands with migrants.”

In Cupich’s view, defending the vulnerable — whether unborn or undocumented — is basic Christianity 101.

That approach aligns squarely with Pope Leo’s Gospel-driven agenda.

By calling Cupich to help govern the Vatican’s own city-state, Pope Leo has sent a clear signal. The Chicago cardinal will be the only member of the Vatican’s governing commission based outside Rome — a notable trust in his perspective.

Even voices somewhat skeptical of Cupich’s actions acknowledge the message:

On an Oct. 17 episode of The Pillar podcast, editor JD Flynn noted that Cupich’s appointment looks like a direct nod of approval from Pope Leo. (Those comments start at 16:57)

In other words, despite the grumbling of some of his brother bishops and other hardline critics, Pope Leo XIV is elevating exactly the kind of pastoral leadership he wants to see in action.

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