On January 20, 2026, three leading American cardinals from Chicago, Washington, and Newark released a rare joint statement questioning the moral foundation of U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland. The cardinals, all elevated by Pope Francis, condemned diplomacy based on force rather than dialogue, describing recent decisions as trapping millions at the edge of existence. Drawing on Pope Leo XIV’s recent address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, the statement sparked debate about the appropriate role of Catholic hierarchy in foreign policy matters, particularly regarding the balance between national interests and papal principles of international relations.
Three leading American cardinals issued a rare joint statement on January 20, 2026, challenging the moral foundation of recent U.S. foreign policy decisions in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland. The statement, released by the Archdiocese of Chicago, Washington, and Newark, represents an uncommon intervention by senior Catholic leaders into matters of American foreign policy. A separate section of the document invoked themes about discerning false leadership and deception from Scripture, referencing the need to guard against the spirit of lawlessness in public life.
Three cardinals from major U.S. archdioceses challenged the moral basis of American foreign policy in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland.
The cardinals criticized what they described as decisions that have trapped millions at the edge of existence, condemning an approach to diplomacy based on force rather than dialogue. While not naming President Trump directly, reporters recognized the statement as an implicit challenge to his administration’s confrontational diplomatic style and use of military force in the referenced regions.
Cardinal Cupich, among those signing the document, provided accompanying commentary positioning the statement as an interpretation of Pope Leo XIV’s vision for international relations. The cardinals drew upon the Pope’s recent address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, in which he regretted the replacement of dialogue by force diplomacy. The New York Times described their statement as applying the Pope’s emerging vision to the American situation.
The strongly worded document measured U.S. policies against papal principles, highlighting what the cardinals called polarization and partisanship in policy debate, beset by narrow economic and social interests. They called for a moral foundation in national debate over foreign affairs. The statement emphasized the protection of right to life as an indispensable foundation for other human rights. All three cardinals were elevated by Pope Francis to the College of Cardinals.
Media coverage emphasized the significance of the joint statement. The National Catholic Reporter noted it as a break with Trump on foreign policy, while Catholic Culture critiqued the cardinals for not representing the entire Church hierarchy. Indeed, the statement did not speak for all U.S. Catholic bishops, but rather reflected the position of leaders from major archdioceses.
The intervention follows a November critique by U.S. bishops of mass removals on domestic policy. While Pope Leo XIV’s State of the World speech was not seen as directly challenging Trump, the cardinals’ statement explicitly targets the American context, sparking debate about the Catholic hierarchy’s appropriate role in foreign policy matters.
Related Posts
