Pope Leo XIV Elected: Applause in Rome, Tension in D.C.
The Catholic Church has elected its first American pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, now Pope Leo XIV. His historic appointment on May 8 drew praise from U.S. leaders, including Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump called it a “Great Honor for our Country,” while Vance wished the new pope success in leading the Church. But early signs suggest the admiration may not be mutual.
Pope Leo XIV has previously criticized MAGA-aligned views, particularly Vance’s interpretation of Christian values. In February, the pope’s verified X account shared an op-ed rejecting Vance’s comments about ranking love for others, directly challenging the Vice President’s remarks on Fox News.
The pope also recently reshared criticism of Trump and El Salvador’s president for joking about deportation, further hinting at ideological distance from key U.S. conservatives.