Three U.S. cardinals issue joint statement on morality in American foreign policy
Three U.S. Catholic cardinals—Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph W. Tobin of Newark—issued a joint statement on January 19, 2026, addressing the moral direction of U.S. foreign policy in light of recent global events and the teachings of Pope Leo XIV.
The cardinals referenced Pope Leo XIV’s address to diplomats at the Vatican earlier this month as a guiding framework for evaluating America’s actions abroad. Cardinal Cupich stated: “As pastors entrusted with teaching our people, we cannot remain indifferent while decisions are made that condemn millions to lives permanently on the edge of existence. Pope Leo has given us clear direction and we must apply his teachings to the conduct of our nation and its leaders.”
Cardinal McElroy said: “Catholic social teaching testifies that when narrowly conceived national interest excludes the moral imperative of solidarity among nations and the dignity of the human person, it causes immense suffering in the world and a catastrophic attack on just peace that benefits every nation and is God’s will.” He added: “In our current national debate about the fundamental contours of American foreign policy, we ignore this reality at the cost of our country’s true interests and the best traditions of this land we love.”
Cardinal Tobin remarked: “Recent events, including participation in last week’s consistory in Rome with Pope Leo and brother cardinals from around the world, convince me of the need to highlight Pope Leo’s vision for just and peaceful relations between nations. Otherwise, escalating threats and armed conflict risk destroying international relations and plunging the world into incalculable suffering.”
Their statement comes amid heightened debates over U.S. involvement in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland—raising questions about military intervention, sovereignty rights, peace-building efforts, national interest versus common good, human dignity, religious freedom, and humanitarian aid.
The declaration quotes Pope Leo XIV:
“In our time, the weakness of multilateralism is a matter of special concern internationally. Diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by diplomacy based on force… The principle established after World War II—that countries should not use force to violate others’ borders—has been broken… Peace is no longer sought as a gift or as an inherently desirable good… Instead it is sought through arms as a condition for asserting one’s own dominance.”
Pope Leo also emphasized that “the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation for any other human right” while highlighting threats such as abortion and euthanasia. He called attention to reduced humanitarian assistance from wealthy nations affecting basic human dignity worldwide.
The cardinals’ statement concludes:
“As pastors and citizens, we welcome this vision for establishing a genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation… We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests… Military action should be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations… We seek a foreign policy that respects life, religious liberty, human dignity globally—especially through economic assistance… We will preach, teach and advocate in coming months so that this higher level may be possible.”
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin serves as Archbishop of Newark according to the official website. The Archdiocese provides pastoral care across northern New Jersey counties such as Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union; it supports Catholic education; participates in global Church initiatives; offers faith formation; social outreach; community activities; parish support; operates offices at 171 Clifton Avenue in Newark; functions as a Roman Catholic archdiocese; aims to serve as witnesses of Christ by providing ministries locally (source).
