The new Pope may be American, but he is no fan of president Donald Trump, according to his social media posts.
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the first American Pope on Thursday, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe.
The former missionary, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, has criticized the Trump administration’s moves on immigration repeatedly and expressed support for progressive causes.
His last retweet, on April 14, slams the Trump administration’s deportation of undocumented migrant and Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.
The post reads: ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’
Pope Leo XIV also shared several articles that address Catholic JD Vance‘s stance on immigration. One of them is titled: ‘JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.’
Back in 2017, Pope Leo reposted a message in support of DACA recipients – those undocumented migrants brought to the US by their parents when they were children.
Pope Leo’s stance on immigration should come as no surprise, as he spent the majority of his career in Latin America, even becoming a naturalized citizen of Peru.
The new Pope, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, has criticized the Trump administration’s moves on immigration repeatedly and expressed support for progressive causes
On Thursday, as he addressed the world as Pope for the first time, he spoke in Spanish as well as Italian.
Chants of ‘Leon, Leon’ ran through the crowd who still appeared to be shocked with many mouthing ‘An American?’
The first American born Pope, Cardinal Prevost emerged in recent days as a contender for the papacy.
The tennis loving cardinal – who is also known as Father Bob – is seen as the ‘least American of the Americans’ and is seen as a silent reformer who would carry on the work of Pope Francis.
President Trump said on Thursday: ‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’
VP Vance added: ‘Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!’
Provost’s election as Pope shocked the world, as there has long been a taboo against a US pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere.
President Trump said on Thursday: ‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’
Provost’s election as Pope shocked the world, as there has long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere. But Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop
Chants of ‘Leon, Leon’ ran through the crowd who still appeared to be shocked with many mouthing ‘An American?’
But Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
He was a popular choice with the Latin American and North American cardinals, although he has kept his views on topics such as women clergy and same sex unions noticeably quiet.
Prevost was also twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.
Pope Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.
In his first words as Pope Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo said, ‘Peace be with you,’ and emphasized a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization. He wore the traditional red cape of the papacy — a cape that Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013.
The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the conclave. Priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted “Viva il papa!”
Waving flags from around the world, tens of thousands of people waited to learn who had won and were shocked when an hour later, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the loggia and said ‘Habemus Papam!’ and announced the winner was Prevost.
