- Pope Leo XIV intervened in a heated abortion dispute within the US Catholic Church, questioning the very definition of what it means to be "pro-life".
- The pontiff's remarks came after conservative US bishops objected to Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich's plan to honor Illinois Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award.
- Senator Durbin, a prominent Democrat, had been criticized for his support of abortion rights, sparking the controversy.
- Pope Leo XIV stated that being "pro-life" should encompass opposition to the death penalty and humane treatment of immigrants, not solely abortion.
- He called for greater mutual respect between opposing factions and a collective search for understanding on ethical issues within the Church.
- Following the Pope's intervention, Senator Durbin declined the award, with Cardinal Cupich lamenting the political polarization in the US.
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