Chicago Faith Community Rallies Behind Pope Leo XIV Amid Clash with President Trump

Religious leaders in Chicago defend the pope's message of peace and criticize the president's attacks.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 10:07am

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A solitary, contemplative figure of Pope Leo XIV standing alone in a dimly lit church interior, the warm sunlight casting deep shadows and creating a pensive, cinematic atmosphere.In a time of political division, the Catholic Church under Pope Leo XIV emerges as a moral voice of opposition, drawing support from the faithful in Chicago and beyond.Chicago Today

Chicago's faith community came out in support of Pope Leo XIV over the weekend, as the pope pushed back on claims that he is clashing with President Trump. The feud between the two leaders intensified following a "60 Minutes" story about tensions between the president and the pope, in which influential American cardinals, including Chicago's Cardinal Blase Cupich, explained the Catholic Church's moral opposition to the war in Iran and the crackdown on immigration under Pope Leo's leadership. Religious leaders in Chicago, including Rev. Michael Pfleger and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, defended the pope's message of peace and criticized the president's attacks.

Why it matters

The back-and-forth between the President of the United States and the pope is an unusual and high-profile rupture between the leaders of the world's most powerful country and the world's largest Christian denomination. The Chicago faith community's vocal support for Pope Leo XIV highlights the growing divide between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration on issues like the war in Iran and immigration.

The details

President Trump has been criticizing Pope Leo XIV, calling him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" in response to the pope's appeals for peace and criticisms of the war in Iran. The feud intensified following a "60 Minutes" story featuring three influential American cardinals, including Chicago's Cardinal Blase Cupich, explaining the Catholic Church's moral opposition to the administration's policies under Pope Leo's leadership. On Sunday, religious leaders in Chicago, including Rev. Michael Pfleger and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, came to the defense of the pope, saying his message of peace is not political but rooted in faith. They criticized Vice President JD Vance for urging the pope to stick to matters of morality, and blasted President Trump's decision to post an AI image of himself as Jesus.

  • On Sunday, religious leaders in Chicago came to the defense of Pope Leo XIV after mass at St. Sabina in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
  • Days ago, Vice President JD Vance urged the pope to stick to matters of morality.
  • This past week, President Trump also defended his decision to post an AI image of himself as Jesus.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The current pope and leader of the Catholic Church, who has emerged as a voice of moral opposition to the war in Iran and the crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has been criticizing and feuding with Pope Leo XIV over the pope's appeals for peace and criticisms of the administration's policies.

Cardinal Blase Cupich

The cardinal of the Archdiocese of Chicago, who was featured in a "60 Minutes" story explaining the Catholic Church's moral opposition to the Trump administration's policies under Pope Leo's leadership.

Rev. Michael Pfleger

A religious leader in Chicago who led an interfaith show of support for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson

A Democratic congressman from Illinois who defended Pope Leo XIV and criticized Vice President JD Vance for urging the pope to stick to matters of morality.

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What they’re saying

“The talk that I gave at the Prayer Meeting for Peace a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting, and yet at it happens it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest of all.”

— Pope Leo XIV

“Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day.”

— Vice President JD Vance

“Mr. JD Vance is unqualified to speak on the word of God to the pope.”

— U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, (D-Illinois)

“So far, the majority of our Catholics, they are very happy with our pope. They are embracing his message, and he's showing them a way of what dialogue looks like, of what leadership looks like, of how to direct our lives in a proper way.”

— Archbishop Ronald Hicks, of New York

“This past week, we were deeply offended, hurt that people have now chosen to chastise the pope — a man who has spoken brilliantly on love on faith and on hope.”

— Rep. Jonathan Jackson, (D-Illinois)

What’s next

The feud between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV is likely to continue, with both sides doubling down on their positions. It remains to be seen whether the Chicago faith community's vocal support for the pope will influence the broader political dynamics.

The takeaway

The clash between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV highlights the growing divide between the Catholic Church and the Trump administration on issues of morality and social justice. The Chicago faith community's defense of the pope underscores the importance of religious leaders speaking out against policies they view as unjust or immoral, even when it means confronting the most powerful political figures.