(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV has refused to comment after being asked about President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago.
When asked by a reporter about Trump sending 400 National Guard troops to Chicago in order to help with the clashes between ICE agents and left-wing protestors, Leo said: “I prefer not to comment at this time about political choices within the United States.”
“I prefer not to comment about political choices within the United States.”
Do you think the Vicar of Christ should take interview questions on American politics? pic.twitter.com/04DAmEYvg7
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) October 7, 2025
Four hundred Texas National Guard members have been deployed to Chicago to help ICE agents fend off attacks from left-wing protestors, at the order of the Trump administration. The Democrat-led City of Chicago and the state of Illinois have sued the Trump administration over the deployment.
Pope Leo’s refusal to comment on the matter follow highly controversial remarks on U.S. politics made last week, when his statement on abortion sparked a backlash from faithful Catholics and other Christians.
When asked about the pro-abortion Democrat Senator Dick Durbin receiving an award from Cardinal Blase Cupich, Leo said: “I think that it is very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during … 40 years of service in the United States Senate.“
“Someone who says I’m against abortion but says I’m in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life,” the Pope said at the time. “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
READ: Pope Leo says support for death penalty is ‘not pro-life,’ defends awarding pro-abortion Durbin
The Roman Pontiff was heavily criticized for appearing to equate the murder of millions of unborn babies with the execution of criminals and application of immigration policies, muddying the water of Catholic moral teaching on these issues.
Leo has voiced criticism of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on several occasions in the past regarding their immigration policies. His remarks have been met with an ill reception by conservative Americans. This time, the Pope decided to tread lightly and not get involved in internal U.S. policy debates.