Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker inserted himself into Pope Leo XIV’s clash with President Donald Trump on Monday, praising the Catholic leader as defender of human life just months after defying him on that very issue.
Despite an appeal from the pope, Pritzker signed a bill passed in December 2025 allowing for “medical assistance in dying,” even though the pontiff privately informed the Illinois governor of his objections to the measure. Pritzker, who has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for President, hailed the Pope in a post on X, saying he “lifts his voice” for “human life.” (RELATED: Trump Doubles Down Attacks On Pope, Refuses To Apologize)
“The Pope lifts his voice as part of a higher calling – one centered on peace and the preservation of human life,” the Illinois governor wrote, using a photo from the very meeting in which the Pope made the appeal on life that Pritzker ignored to give the appearance of solidarity.
The Pope lifts his voice as part of a higher calling – one centered on peace and the preservation of human life. pic.twitter.com/9i90wk1kTI
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) April 13, 2026
After Pritzker signed the bill, the Pope expressed disappointment that the concerns he’d raised with the democrat about “the sacredness of life” were disregarded, CBS News reported.
“I spoke very explicitly with Governor Pritzker about that. At that time, the bill was already on his desk — I’m sure, also, with Cardinal Cupich — but we were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end and unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill,” Pope Leo said in December, according to CBS Chicago, “I’m very disappointed about that.”
Pritzker’s praise was shared on X Monday shortly after Trump doubled down on comments calling Pope Leo “weak” and accusing him of acting more like a politician than a great religious leader. Trump’s comments came after the Pope objected to the president’s comments on the war with with Iran.
Pritzker’s newfound admiration for the Pope’s values is at odds with his previous actions as governor, which have included support for abortion, which multiple popes have opposed. In October 2023, the Illinois governor founded a non-profit group to promote legislation protecting abortion in states enacting restrictions on the measure, including Ohio and Arizona.
The democrat governor also signed expansive legislation in January 2023 that not only allowed abortion, but also shielded doctors who assisted residents in states that enacted pro-life legislation in obtaining abortions. In August 2025, Pritzker signed a bill that mandated that public universities provide abortion pills to students. (RELATED: Trump Drops F Bomb In Easter Sunday Threat Against Iran)
“I’m proud to be taking these steps, but I will not rest on this,” Pritzker said in a statement issued about the enactment of the abortion pill mandate. “Because we know that anti-choice extremists won’t.”
The White House noted that Pritzker’s opposition to immigration enforcement and crime policies led to the deaths of “innocent citizens.”
“JB Pritzker is a slob whose soft-on-crime and pro illegal alien polices are getting the innocent citizens of the great state of Illinois killed,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Instead of pushing Trump Derangement conspiracy theories, Pritzker should apologize to the family of Sheridan Gorman and many other Illinois residents who have been injured or killed because of his state’s ridiculous sanctuary policies. Pritzker cares more about illegal alien criminals than protecting his own citizens. He is a disgrace.”
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