Three U.S. cardinals call on Trump to apply a moral compass to foreign policy amid military actions, aid cuts, and global tensions.
Newsroom (20/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Three prominent U.S. Catholic cardinals have called on the Trump administration to pursue a foreign policy grounded in moral principles rather than political expediency, warning that recent U.S. actions risk intensifying global instability and suffering.
In a rare joint statement issued Monday, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., urged Washington to adopt what they termed a “moral compass” in responding to international crises. They specifically cited U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, the administration’s threats to purchase Greenland, and deep cuts to foreign aid as examples of policies that have strayed from a commitment to peace and human dignity.
McElroy told the Associated Press that he feared both the nation and the world had drifted from moral bearings in matters of foreign policy. “Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” he said. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.”
A Moral Appeal from the Church
The cardinals’ statement marks a significant intervention by the American Catholic hierarchy in public debate over U.S. foreign affairs. It follows an earlier condemnation by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November, which criticized the administration’s mass deportations and harsh rhetoric toward migrants.
This latest appeal draws inspiration from Pope Leo XIV’s major address to diplomats at the Vatican on January 9. The U.S.-born pontiff denounced the growing reliance on force by nations seeking dominance, warning that such behavior undermines the post-World War II legal order meant to safeguard global peace. While the pope did not name specific countries, his remarks coincided with controversy over the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and its strategic posturing toward Greenland.
“The nations are using force to assert their dominion worldwide,” Leo said in an address described as one of his sharpest critiques of modern foreign policy.
The Ethical Question of Power
Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin said the United States now faces “basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.” They argued that moral leadership—not military might—should define America’s global role.
“Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” their statement 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.”
In an interview, Tobin elaborated on the idea of a moral compass guiding policy. “It can’t be that my prosperity is predicated on the inhuman treatment of others,” he said. “The real argument isn’t just about my rights or individual rights, but about the common good.”
From Vatican to Washington
Cupich recounted that the seeds of the statement were planted during a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican earlier in January, where several clergy voiced alarm about U.S. actions in Venezuela and the administration’s retreat from foreign aid programs. Pope Leo’s speech days later gave the American cardinals a framework for expressing their concerns.
“Leo gave us the language we needed,” Cupich said, adding that while Maduro’s removal from Venezuela might be defensible in principle, the unilateral use of force to achieve it was troubling. “When we say, ‘Because we can do it, we’re going to do it,’ that’s a troublesome development. There’s the rule of law that should be followed.”
President Trump has maintained that the operation to oust Maduro was lawful and necessary. On Greenland, he has repeatedly argued that control of the resource-rich island is critical for U.S. national security.
Aid Cuts and the Loss of Compassion
Perhaps the most stinging critique from the cardinals was reserved for the administration’s rollback of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Once a flagship of American humanitarian outreach, the agency saw its programs sharply reduced amid claims they were politically biased and wasteful.
Tobin, whose ministry as a Redemptorist priest took him to more than 70 countries, described the cuts as a retreat from charity and global solidarity. “U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health,” he said, lamenting the lost opportunities for peace and partnership those programs once created.
A Call for Conscience, Not Partisanship
Despite the sharp tone of their warning, the cardinals insisted they were not engaging in partisan politics. Instead, they said their goal was to encourage the nation to reclaim its moral standing and to remind both leaders and citizens of their duty to promote human dignity abroad.
“We’re not endorsing a political party or a political movement,” Tobin said. “The faithful in the pews and all people of good will have a role to play. They can make an argument of basic human decency.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the cardinals’ statement.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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