Pope Leo XIV: Opposing Abortion but Backing Death Penalty Is 'Not Really Pro‑Life'

🔍 Key Facts

Pope Leo XIV said, "Someone who says 'I'm against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty' is not really pro‑life."
CBS News reported the remark on its Facebook page on 2025-10-01T22:11:35+00:00 under the headline "Pope criticizes those who say they're 'pro‑life' but support death penalty."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly disputed the Pope's characterization, saying the administration "would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants" under this administration.
The article noted that Durbin declined Cardinal Cupich's lifetime achievement award.
The Pope's remarks were made hours before the announcement that Durbin had declined the Cardinal Cupich lifetime achievement award.
The comments were presented as a critique of claiming to be "pro‑life" while supporting the death penalty.

Many X users argue that the death penalty is justified for heinous crimes and aligns with traditional Catholic teachings, contrasting with the Pope's stance that it's incompatible with being truly pro-life.
Conservative posters on X emphasize distinguishing between legal immigration and illegal entries, claiming that strict border enforcement protects American lives and is thus pro-life, a nuance not highlighted in mainstream reports.
Some X discussions highlight Pope Leo XIV's own conservative background, including his registration as a Republican and opposition to abortion and homosexuality, suggesting his comments on immigration and the death penalty are part of a consistent but broader pro-life ethic.
X users point out perceived inconsistencies in Catholic leadership, noting that while the Pope criticizes U.S. immigration policies, the Vatican has strict borders, questioning the application of 'inhuman treatment' claims.
Progressive voices on X praise the Pope for expanding the pro-life definition to include social issues like immigration and capital punishment, arguing this holistic approach challenges selective conservatism in U.S. politics.

Based on 2 sources

https://www.facebook.com/CBSNews/ October 01, 2025

New information:

Direct, attributable quote from Pope Leo XIV: "Someone who says 'I'm against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty' is not really pro‑life."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly disputed the Pope's characterization, saying the administration 'would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants' under this administration.
The article notes Durbin declined Cardinal Cupich's lifetime achievement award; the Pope's remarks came hours before that announcement.

NPR by Claire Giangrave October 01, 2025