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 Service reported .

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Durbin told NBC News he was surprised by "the level of controversy" and had withdrawn from accepting the award "because the reaction has been so controversial against the Cardinal

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