ROME — In a heartfelt plea, three U.S. Catholic cardinals have called on the Trump administration to adopt a moral approach to its foreign policy. They express deep concerns over military actions in Venezuela and Greenland, as well as significant cuts to foreign aid that threaten to deepen human suffering globally.
Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark issued a statement emphasizing that without a guiding moral vision, the U.S. foreign policy debate has become entrenched in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”
“Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” said McElroy. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.”
This unprecedented joint statement is the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have vocally criticized the Trump administration, which they believe is failing to uphold essential human dignity. Last November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned mass deportations and anti-immigrant rhetoric from the administration.
The three cardinals, representing the progressive faction of the U.S. church, are responding to Pope Leo XIV’s recent foreign policy address, in which he decried nations wielding military force to assert dominance, undermining international peace and legal order.
In their statement, they raise fundamental questions regarding military intervention and the essence of peace, specifically drawing attention to situations in Venezuela, Greenland, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. They assert that America’s moral role in confronting global issues and maintaining human rights is currently under scrutiny.
“We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests, and we assert that military action should only be a last resort,” the cardinals noted, advocating instead for foreign policy rooted in human dignity and economic assistance. Tobin highlighted the need for a moral compass that prioritizes the common good over individual prosperity.
In interviews following the statement, Cupich and McElroy revealed that their concerns were inspired by discussions with other cardinals at a recent Vatican meeting. The alarming implications of U.S. foreign actions prompted them to seek a moral outpouring reflecting the Holy See’s vision for peace.
The cardinals emphasized they are not aligning with any political party or movement but wish to appeal to all people of goodwill to advocate for basic human decency. Their statement resonates with a broader call for the United States to regain its moral standing globally through an ethically-guided foreign policy.
