As white smoke signaled the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, celebrations erupted in St. Peter’s Square — but political ripples are already spreading in the U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, 69, was elected pope on May 8, becomingĀ the first American leader of the Catholic Church. Praise came swiftly from U.S. political leaders, withĀ President TrumpĀ calling it a ā€œGreat Honor for our Country,ā€ andĀ Vice President JD VanceĀ offering prayers for his leadership.Ā Strained AlignmentsĀ Despite the fanfare, someĀ MAGA supportersĀ have begun labeling the new pope as ā€œanti-Trump.ā€ Past social media posts from Pope Leo’s verified X account show himĀ resharing criticism of JD VanceĀ andĀ voicing concern about Trump-era immigration rhetoric.Ā One notable repost was a National Catholic Reporter op-ed criticizing Vance’s interpretation of Christian love, following his remarks on Fox News that emphasized prioritizing love for family and country over others. More recently, Pope Leo XIV reshared a Catholic Standard article that condemned jokes made by Trump and El Salvador’s President about the deportation of a Maryland resident, calling on Catholics to question their consciences.Ā A Papacy with PrinciplesĀ While U.S. leaders have celebrated his election,Ā Pope Leo XIV appears unafraid to challenge political views that clash with Catholic teachingsĀ on compassion, immigration, and moral responsibility

By Admin