Cardinal Blase Cupich calls for continued Vatican II renewal, climate action and peace

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the 77‑year‑old Archbishop of Chicago, said the top priority for the Catholic Church is “the continuation of the renewal path called for by the Second Vatican Council.” He stressed that the Church must be a prophetic voice on environmental protection, invoking Pope Francis’s encyclical *Laudato si’* to address global warming, rising sea levels and storms.

Cupich also warned against a “misuse of the doctrine of just war,” arguing that war should be a last resort after all dialogue avenues have been exhausted. He urged respect for the principle of subsidiarity, urging decisions to be made at the lowest possible level while maintaining solidarity across the worldwide Church.

The cardinal’s remarks linked doctrinal renewal with social issues, emphasizing unity without enforced uniformity within the Church’s global structure.