Pope Leo XIV did not hold back this week as he addressed rising tensions in the United States, sharply criticizing anti-immigrant sentiment, hawkish military rhetoric, and political leaders who claim to be pro-life while supporting policies he believes contradict the Gospel.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth convened top military brass in a rare meeting, telling them to be “prepared for war, not for defense.” He emphasized using “overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy” and pledged to “untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.”

The Chicago-born pontiff, who spoke to reporters later that evening, warned that such language is dangerous. “It is worrying, because it shows each time an increase in tensions,” Leo said in Italian, according to the Catholic News Agency. Referring to Hegseth’s change in title from “secretary of defense” to “secretary of war,” he added pointedly: “Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.”

The pope’s comments come at a time when U.S. politics remain deeply polarized, with Christian voters wrestling with how faith should shape policy. His remarks extended beyond foreign policy and military aggression, pressing into domestic debates about what it truly means to be pro-life.

Leo was asked about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to honor outgoing Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award. Durbin, a Catholic, faced backlash because of his long-standing support of abortion rights. Though Durbin declined the award, the issue sparked controversy in Catholic circles.

The pope, speaking in English, responded with nuance. “I think that it’s very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate.”

But then he widened the conversation, calling out what he sees as inconsistencies in American political discourse. “Someone who says, ‘I am against abortion,’ but says, ‘I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” Leo explained. “Someone who says that, ‘I am against abortion, but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”

Although Pope Leo didn’t specifically name names, his comments clearly cut across the policies of former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Both men have campaigned as staunchly pro-life but have also endorsed the death penalty and advocated hardline immigration policies.

For Christians, Leo’s words are a reminder that the Church has always taught the sanctity of life as a consistent ethic—not one that applies only to the unborn but also to the poor, the marginalized, and those facing persecution. His challenge calls believers to reflect: Is pro-life a political slogan or a Christ-centered conviction that embraces all people as made in the image of God?

In a cultural moment when politics often seems to demand compromise on one side of the issue or the other, Pope Leo’s message resonates with the radical call of the Gospel: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” His sharp critique may ruffle feathers across the political spectrum, but for many Christians, it underscores a truth worth remembering—faith is not meant to serve partisan politics; it is meant to serve Christ and His Kingdom.