American cardinals criticize Trump's Iran war, deportations in 60 Minutes interview

Three American cardinals, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, sat down with anchor Norah O'Donnell on 60 Minutes April 12 in a joint interview, addressing the Trump administration's war in Iran, immigration enforcement, and how they respond to Catholics who say they do not want politics from the pulpit.

The interview also touched on Pope Leo XIV's own public statements calling for an end to the war.

The Iran war

Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, said the U.S. conflict with Iran fails to meet the Catholic Church’s criteria for a just war.

“No, in the Catholic teaching this is not a just war,” he said, arguing that such conflicts must be narrowly aimed at restoring justice and peace. While calling Iran’s government “an abominable regime,” he described the war as “a war of choice” and warned of the possibility of “war after war after war.” 

The remarks echo similar concerns from Timothy Broglio, who said during a Good Friday interview that the war does not meet the Church’s just war criteria, as Zeale News reported.

Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, also condemned how the war has been portrayed in some official communications, and criticized a White House social media post that combined military strike footage with clips from Top Gun: Maverick and Braveheart. 

"We're dehumanizing the victims of war by turning the suffering of people and the killing of children and our own soldiers into entertainment," he said. "It is sickening.” 

“This is not who we are,” the cardinal said. “We're better than this."

As Zeale News reported, the cardinal also issued a statement last month denouncing the videos, saying the portrayal treated a deadly conflict “like it’s a video game.”

Immigration enforcement and deportations

The cardinals also addressed immigration enforcement. Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, stood by a prior statement calling ICE "a lawless organization," explaining that when agents "hide their identities to terrify people" and "violate our Constitution and Bill of Rights, well, I think somebody's got to call that out."

Cardinal McElroy pointed to declining Mass attendance in immigrant communities and said Spanish-language Mass attendance in his archdiocese fell 30% over the past year due to fear of immigration enforcement.

“That's a lot. And it's all fear,” he said. 

Cardinal Cupich questioned whether President Donald Trump’s deportation policy reflects the will of Catholic voters. 

"I would like to know what Catholics feel about this indiscriminate mass deportation," he said. "I think it's very clear the American people are saying, 'We really didn't vote for this.'"

Trump won the Catholic vote 55% to 43% over Kamala Harris in 2024, according to 60 Minutes.

Preaching the Gospel, not politics

Asked how they respond to Catholics who say they do not want to hear politics from the pulpit, Cardinal Cupich said that’s fine, as the Church’s focus continues to be rooted in its core mission.

“I say fine. I want to preach the Gospel,” he said, adding that promoting peace is central to that message.

Cardinal McElroy said the bishops’ public comments are actually driven not by politics but by pastoral concern.

“What we’re seeing as pastors is an enormous, profound level of human suffering,” he said. “And that’s what motivates us.”