Three cardinals’ rare joint statement against Trump—and what it could mean for the U.S. church
Inside the Vatican January 23, 2026
The three U.S. cardinals currently leading dioceses—Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark—issued a rare joint statement urging the Trump administration to step back from foreign policy strategies and goals that threaten world peace.
On “Inside the Vatican,” America Chief Correspondent Kevin Clarke joins Colleen Dulle to discuss the statement, analyzing its content, precedents, and potential impact on the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. “You could say that Donald Trump is dividing a lot of people around the world and within the United States,” Kevin says, “but one group of people that he is just completely bringing together is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.”
Colleen also delivers news headlines on the death of renowned Vatican journalist John L. Allen, Jr., an invitation for the Vatican to join President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, two papal audiences and the new 15,000-piece mosaic of Pope Leo XIV to be displayed at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/01/23/us-cardinals-trump-greenland-venezuela-ukraine/