Sen. Dick Durbin says he's 'overwhelmed' after Pope Leo defended him from abortion-related criticism

Sen. Dick Durbin said he was "overwhelmed" by the support he received from Pope Leo after facing criticism for his long-held support for abortion rights.

Sen. Dick Durbin, one of the highest-ranking Democratic Catholics in U.S. office, told NBC News on Wednesday that he was "overwhelmed" by the support he received from Pope Leo XIV after facing criticism for his long-held support for abortion rights.

Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, was recently offered a "lifetime achievement award" by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich for his work related to immigration advocacy. But that decision drew blowback over his abortion stance, including from multiple U.S. bishops, the Catholic News Agency reported.

Durbin told NBC News he was surprised by "the level of controversy" and had withdrawn from accepting the award "because the reaction has been so controversial against the Cardinal who proposed it, and I see no point in going forward with that.”

But then, the pope weighed in.

Pope Leo XIV suggested Sen. Dick Durbin should not be judged alone by his abortion position.Andrew Medichini / APWhile acknowledging he was not "terribly familiar" with the specifics of the controversy, Pope Leo told reporters Tuesday, according to CNS, "I think it’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, in 40 years of service in the United States Senate."