Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, has taken public positions and engaged in activism that diverge from Pope Leo XIV’s efforts to promote unity in the Church. The announcement was made by The Daily Compass.
According to The Daily Compass, Cardinal Blase Cupich has repeatedly drawn controversy through high-profile interventions in U.S. politics and Church debates, including sharp criticism of the Trump administration and strong opposition to the Tridentine Mass under Traditionis Custodes. His activism—often seen as sidelining the U.S. bishops’ conference—has complicated Pope Leo XIV’s said goal of ecclesial and national reconciliation, especially given Cupich’s past influence during the Francis pontificate. Now over the customary retirement age, Cupich’s continued prominence raises questions about double standards in episcopal governance and whether his divisive role ultimately hinders the Pope’s unifying magisterium.
Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost) and Cardinal Blase Cupich share Chicago roots, and their relationship also intersects through Vatican governance: Leo appointed Cupich to the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State in October 2025, underscoring an active institutional tie. Separately, Leo’s Vatican profile highlights his rise through roles connected to bishop appointments—an area where Cupich has also operated at the Curial level—making their overlap both personal and administrative.
The Daily Compass commentary framed Cupich as a recurring complication for Leo XIV’s said emphasis on unity, pointing to Cupich’s high-profile media interventions on U.S. politics and his public criticisms of the Trump administration (which the administration has disputed in public reporting). The piece also argued that Cupich’s posture could constrain papal flexibility on personnel decisions in Chicago, portraying the situation as a test of whether Leo’s unifying message can be maintained amid prominent domestic flashpoints.
Cupich has served as Archbishop of Chicago since 2014 and was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016. The Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest Catholic jurisdictions in the United States and coordinates parish, school, and ministry life across the city and surrounding areas.
