Read our Privacy noticePope Leo XIV has intervened for the first time in a heated abortion dispute within the US Catholic Church, questioning the very definition of what it means to be "pro-life." “Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” Leo said. Church teaching forbids abortion but it also opposes capital punishment as “inadmissible” under all circumstances. Cupich was a close adviser to Pope Francis, who strongly upheld church teaching opposing abortion but also criticized the politicizing of the abortion debate by U.S. bishops. Pope Leo says mutual respect is neededSenator Durbin declines his award