Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò sharply criticizes Pope Leo XIV’s response to the Archdiocese of Chicago awarding Senator Dick Durbin — a staunch abortion supporter — with a “Keep Hope Alive” award. Viganò argues that the Pope’s comments reflect the ongoing influence of the “Seamless Garment” mentality that equates abortion with other issues
In this October 2025 analysis, Archbishop Viganò contends that Pope Leo XIV’s defense of giving an award to pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin demonstrates that the “Seamless Garment” approach — which downplays the unique gravity of abortion by equating it with other social issues — continues to affect Church leadership.
Viganò warns that this mindset leads to moral confusion and weakens the Church’s clear teaching on the sanctity of innocent human life.