Pope Leo XIV has spoken out on U.S. politics for the first time during his papacy, commenting on the pressing issues affecting the country’s political landscape, from abortion to immigration.
The first U.S.-born pontiff called for respect for both sides but also pointed out the contradictions in the debate surrounding the anti-abortion or “pro-life” movement.
Without naming anyone, the Pope stated that being pro-life means supporting that ideology universally, not selectively only when it applies to abortion.
“Someone who says, ‘I’m anti-abortion, but at the same time supports the death penalty’ is not truly pro-life,” said Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago.