Three leading American Catholic cardinals have issued a stark warning to the Trump administration, arguing that its foreign policy decisions—including military intervention in Venezuela and threats to acquire Greenland—lack a moral compass and risk causing immense suffering.
A Call for Ethical Leadership
In a highly unusual joint statement released on Monday 19 January 2026, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark asserted that current debates are mired in "polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests." They warned that without a clear moral vision, US actions threaten peace and human dignity worldwide.
"Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy," Cardinal McElroy told The Associated Press. He maintained his belief that the US still holds tremendous global influence, which he implied carries a profound responsibility.
Inspired by Papal Critique
The cardinals, prominent figures in the progressive wing of the US church, drew direct inspiration from a major foreign policy address by Pope Leo XIV on 9 January. In that speech, the first US-born pope critiqued nations using force to assert dominion, actions he said "completely undermine" peace and the post-war international order.
While the Pope named no countries, his remarks came against the backdrop of the US military operation in Venezuela to oust Nicolás Maduro, repeated US threats to acquire Greenland, and Russia's war in Ukraine. The cardinals cited these three specific issues, saying they "raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace."
Questioning Force and Aid Cuts
The church leaders also condemned the significant cuts to foreign aid initiated by the Trump administration last year, which gutted the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Cardinal Tobin, who has served in over 70 countries, lamented this retreat, stating that US philanthropy is crucial in combating global hunger and health crises.
In their statement, the cardinals declared: "We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy." They called for a foreign policy that advances human life, dignity, and religious liberty.
Cardinal Cupich acknowledged that bringing Maduro to justice could be seen positively, but not through a unilateral military incursion. "When we go ahead and do it in such a way that is portrayed as saying, 'Because we can do it, we’re going to do it, that might makes right' — that’s a troublesome development," he said, emphasising the need to follow the rule of law.
The cardinals stressed their primary aim was not to criticise but to encourage the US to regain its moral standing in the world. "We're not endorsing a political party or a political movement," Cardinal Tobin clarified, urging all people of good will to advocate for basic human decency and the common good.
This intervention marks the second time in two months that senior US Catholic figures have publicly challenged the Trump administration, following a November condemnation by all US bishops of mass deportations and the "vilification" of migrants.
