Amanpour Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich
Apr 16, 2026
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and close ally of Pope Francis, discusses the Pope's warnings on war, just war principles, and the Church’s role in public life. Nicholas Enrich, former senior USAID official and author, recounts the dismantling of U.S. development aid, contract cancellations, and the human cost of policy changes.
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Pope Francis Centers Peace In Modern Just War Debate
- Pope Francis frames opposition to modern wars as part of the gospel and long Catholic teaching on just war.
- Cardinal Blase Cupich argues the Pope targets the zeal for war and stresses proportionality and defined objectives given modern weapons' civilian impact.
Church Voice Under Political Pressure In US Dispute
- Cupich sees attacks on the Pope as an orchestrated attempt to marginalize the Catholic Church's public voice in the U.S.
- He warns this pattern could echo historical anti-Catholicism and cites canceled contracts and public denunciations as evidence.
Invoke Scripture To Promote Peace Not War
- Use scripture responsibly and prioritize teachings that promote peace when invoking faith in public policy.
- Cupich recommends returning to the Beatitudes and Jesus' blessing of peacemakers rather than scriptures that glorify war.
