Here is a transcript of the full interview with Cardinal Cardinal Blase Cupich, part of which aired on May 11, 2025 on “Facing the Country with Margaret Brennan.”
Ed O'Keefe: Cardinal Cupich, thank you very much for joining us. We learn that since he was elected as the new Holy Father, he and Pope Leo Academy held your first meeting this weekend, and in his public remarks he spoke about Pope Francis’s full dedication to service and a sober life and called on you all to be in his precious legacy and to continue this journey. What does this mean for you and the church?
CABINAL CUPICH: Well, I think this is the forefront of what we really want to serve God’s people – we are entrusted to take care of. So it's not about pointing out and taking care of yourself, but about first focusing our attention on the needs of people in everyday life and what I've done for over a quarter of a century and pastors who have been bishops and 50 years.
Ed O'Keefe: One thing he's talking to everyone is the concerns about artificial intelligence, saying it's one of the key issues facing human beings. Did he explain why?
Cupinal Cupich: Well, I think he did it - he said that in the context of the work of Leo XIII, the moment of the Industrial Revolution saw it as a new era. So he now sees this opportunity as a service for Leo XIV to address the challenges of new technologies, namely artificial intelligence, and what it means to humanity. I think we will hear more about this from him, but he made these remarks so that we can see that He sees us in a new moment in history and that the church must be sensitive and aware of what is going on.
Ed O'Keefe: I think this will be the subject of great prayer and reflection for him and all of you. But how does the Catholic Church manage, police or control the use of artificial intelligence?
Cupinal Cupich: I think it may depend on the regulation measures taken by lawmakers. What we can do, I think, is talking about the moral and human issues that this technology has developed. How do we continue to maintain our humanity and develop in it? I think our AI has some great opportunities, but there are some unpredictable challenges. But what role must the measuring rod have to do to our humanity? How does it affect us acting in a very human way? I think these questions are - we are proficient in being able to talk to the world and give some advice to the world.
Ed O'Keefe: This is the first thing he said from the balcony of St. Peter's Square when he greets the crowd. I'm curious, as the pope, what has he been on fire with the world, what can he do to bring peace to the world?
Cupinal Cupich: Well, he mentioned these words as the first words of the Resurrected Christ, so he wanted to make sure that we, as the church, showed the world an opportunity to bring peace, which is what begins in each of us. As Pope Francis said, we do see a world war of scattered battles. So I hope he will be the promoter of peace, they will be the way humans challenge to find ways in which differences we can resolve in a peaceful way. You know, the other thing that comes to mind here is that the Cardinal made the decision in just 24 hours. Here we are over 130 people representing over 70 countries and despite all the differences in language and culture, we are able to make decisions in a unified way. Hopefully this shows that the world can also solve its difficulties and differences in a peaceful and harmonious way with humanity.
Ed O'Keefe: We know he's a voice-over and tweeted his concerns about immigration and climate change and other issues facing the world. Do we expect him to continue Francis’ legacy of global politics, and maybe he might call on all of you to do the same as his brothers Cardinals?
CABINAL CUPICH: Yes, I think like the Pope in the modern era, he has an obligation to talk about today’s issues because we live in a world that faces real challenges around the world. I think we have a new moment to check what is the human level of immigration? How do we see global warming affect us? How issues related to human suffering should affect all of us and make us all aware and engage in solutions. Yes, I think he will be the voice of all these things simply because we talk about human existence in many ways.
Ed O'Keefe: I know that immigration issues are particularly urgent and controversial in this country. The American Catholic Bishops and Government Conferences vary in every aspect of what they do in enforcing immigration laws. Do you expect him to guide you more actively and how you should address this with the Trump administration? Or are you just going on, like in the past few months?
CAPIAN CUPICH: Well, we have always said that every country has an obligation and the right to defend its borders. Our years of claim is a comprehensive immigration program. I think if we had this work and the legislators took on this task, we wouldn't have had the difficulties we were facing today. Therefore, our main focus is how we repair broken systems, and at the same time, until this happens, how we address those who enter our country in a human way for a better life, and also flee the violence of the drug trade, the violence caused by the drug trade, the arms trade in our borders, and the violence in many ways, especially our bonds in the South and in the South and in the Middle.
Ed O'Keefe: You know, it's Mother's Day. I'm curious about what the Catholic Church has to do to women?
Cardinal Cupich: Well, this is a great opportunity to wish all mothers a happy Mother's Day. I remember, finally, a wonderful way to raise nine children with my own mother, Shepherd and with my father. I think the important aspect, which is what Pope Francis started in many ways, is to recognize the gifts and talents of women, who must provide leadership in church life, and they must also hear them. They live and enrich discussions in different ways through their own experiences. I always feel this way. Of course, I learned very well because I had five sisters who taught me.
Ed O'Keefe: I have two, so I know what you mean there, but you say women should be equal partners, but of course, the issue of women who have been deacons or pastors, even Pope Leo disagrees. This is a problem-solving problem, they will never be like that, but may he continue to upgrade women in other Vatican leadership positions?
Cardinal Cupich: Well, yes, because I think the point of the question is how we have a place in the life of the church, especially in leadership, can also bring the wisdom of women into the life of the church. Pope Francis did this and made the Governor of Vatican City a woman for the first time, the head of a religious master, men and women. He therefore has looked for ways to dedicate women’s gifts and talents to church life. And I think he is very - Pope Francis is very aware that we do not necessarily have to add holy commands, authority and authority to the church life, and women have room to exercise authority in the church life, and he opened the door. I'm very sure Pope Leo XIV will do the same.
Ed O'Keefe: A few years ago, he conducted some examination of his opinion on Pope Francis' phone calls to allow some blessing to the same-sex unions, rather than full marriage recognition, but a blessing to their existence, or people in it. But when he was in the old position of being in charge of the bishop, he actually suggested that if I read it correctly, one scale might not be suitable for everyone, and every country or region might need to figure out how to solve this problem exactly, for example, given that in Africa, gay treatments vary greatly in other parts of the world. Yes - Do you believe this problem still exists?
Cardinal Cupich: Well, I think, to be clear, what Pope Francis calls the church document is that individuals can be blessed no matter what status is in life because it is a chance for them to seek God’s grace in life. So, in terms of marriage, it involves the situations that people encounter in marriage, whether in the church or not, the same-sex individuals, and also polygamous unions, which is very much present in different parts of the world. So, it is about how an individual who wants to help God, bring a journey of life to everyone, seeks God’s grace from the church. What is that really. And it has to be, it has to be played in different ways according to the culture of the people.