Who Is Pope Leo XIV? Why It Matters
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, formerly Cardinal and missionary in South America, became Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. As the first American-born pope, his views bear particular influence amid the intersection of faith and U.S. politics. Pope Leo XIV’s views on Trump have sparked widespread discussion, highlighting a moral contrast between Vatican values and modern political rhetoric.
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The Context: His History on Social Media
Prior to his election, Pope Leo’s former X (Twitter) account, now deleted, actively shared and commented on political issues. These include:
- In 2015, he reposted Cardinal Dolan’s Washington Post op‑ed criticizing Trump’s “anti‑immigrant rhetoric”.
- In 2018, he reshared Cardinal Cupich’s thread condemning family‑separation and “warehousing” immigrant children under Trump.
- He also highlighted concerns over deportation of specific individuals (e.g., Kilmar Abrego Garcia) and said:
“Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”.
Pope Leo’s Central Critiques of Trump-Era Policies
Based on his social media activity and early public comments, the pontiff shared clear moral objections to several Trump-era policies:
🕊️ Immigration Stances
- He retweeted criticisms of family separation, calling the action “morally indefensible.”
- He spotlighted wrongful deportations, asking questions of Christian conscience.
🤝 Nationalist and “America First” Rhetoric
- As pope, he has more generally denounced “exclusionary mindsets” and nationalist politics, urging to “open borders … break down walls,” statements widely viewed as counterpoints to Trump’s populist agenda.
🗣️ Tone and Communication Style
- In his debut press briefing, he subtly warned against “aggressive, divisive rhetoric” reminiscent of Trump’s style, promoting dialogue and peace instead.
Has He Spoken About Trump Personally?
- He has not named Donald Trump directly in his papal sermons, official addresses, or public homilies.
- Comments referencing Trump appeared solely on his former personal social media account and are considered pre-papal commentary.
- Since becoming Pope, he’s focused on global themes, immigration, unity, border policy, but has avoided personal attacks on Trump.
What It Means for U.S. Catholics and Trump’s Circle
- Many MAGA-aligned voices labeled Pope Leo XIV “anti-Trump” or “globalist,” prompting strong backlash from conservative Catholic factions.
- Meanwhile, Trump expressed gratitude, calling the election “a great honour for our country” and looking forward to meeting the pope.
- Experts suggest Leo will likely engage diplomatically, “a disarming presence” who critiques policies through moral framing rather than direct confrontation.
🔍 Summary Table: What Pope Leo XIV Has Said
| Topic | Papal or Pre-Papal Content |
|---|---|
| Family separation | Called it morally indefensible; retweeted Cardinal Cupich (unilad.com) |
| Deportations | Raised questions of suffering and conscience |
| Immigration rhetoric | Critiqued “anti‑immigrant rhetoric” via reposts |
| Nationalism & walls | Denounced exclusionary politics as Pope |
| Rhetoric style | Called for end to aggressive language |
Conclusion
Pope Leo XIV has not publicly named Donald Trump, but his former social media activity reveals a consistent moral critique, especially around immigration, family separation, and nationalist rhetoric. As Pope, he’s shifted to broader, global appeals – urging unity, breaking down barriers, and softer, empathetic communication.
His tone suggests a pontificate committed to diplomatic moral influence rather than political confrontation, even in areas where his philosophy diverges from Trump-era conservatism.
