Cardinal Cupich Criticizes Trump's Religious Rhetoric on War

Chicago's top Catholic leader pushes back on the administration's use of faith to justify military actions.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:23pm

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A moody, cinematic painting of a Catholic church in a dimly lit urban setting, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows across the facade, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation and the separation of church and state.Cardinal Cupich's criticism of the Trump administration's religious rhetoric on war reflects growing unease among faith leaders about the politicization of religion in foreign policy.Chicago Today

As tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, Cardinal Blase Cupich, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, has spoken out against the Trump administration's use of religious rhetoric to justify military actions. Cupich criticized comments made by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that invoked God and religion, saying such language is inappropriate and concerning.

Why it matters

Cupich's comments highlight the growing unease among religious leaders about the Trump administration's tendency to frame foreign policy decisions through the lens of faith. There are concerns that this rhetoric could further inflame tensions and be used to justify military escalation.

The details

In recent days, President Trump has talked about 'wiping out an entire civilization,' while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said 'God deserves all the glory.' Cupich, in an interview with WBEZ, pushed back on this type of language, saying it is inappropriate for political leaders to invoke religion in this way. The cardinal argued that faith should not be used to justify war or violence.

  • On April 9, 2026, Cardinal Cupich spoke to WBEZ about the Trump administration's use of religious rhetoric.
  • Earlier this week, President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth made comments invoking God and religion to discuss the U.S. conflict with Iran.

The players

Cardinal Blase Cupich

The head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, who has criticized the Trump administration's use of religious language to justify military actions.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has used religious rhetoric when discussing the conflict with Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Defense Secretary who said 'God deserves all the glory' when discussing the administration's actions.

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What they’re saying

“That kind of rhetoric has drawn criticism from religious leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Blase Cupich, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.”

— WBEZ News, News Report

“God deserves all the glory.”

— Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary

What’s next

As the U.S. and Iran maintain an uneasy ceasefire, the debate over the administration's use of religious rhetoric to justify military actions is likely to continue, with religious leaders like Cardinal Cupich continuing to voice their concerns.

The takeaway

Cardinal Cupich's criticism of the Trump administration's religious rhetoric highlights the growing unease among faith leaders about the politicization of religion in foreign policy decisions. This debate underscores the need to separate matters of state from matters of faith, and to ensure that military actions are justified on pragmatic, not theological, grounds.