Trump’s Unexpected Interaction with a Pope Sparks Global Curiosity

Dome of a cathedral at sunset with orange sky

America makes history as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, with President Trump extending warm congratulations despite the new pope’s past criticisms of his administration.

Quick Takes

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s history.
President Trump congratulated the new pontiff on Truth Social, calling the appointment “a Great Honor for our Country.”
Pope Leo XIV previously criticized Trump and Vice President Vance’s immigration policies before his elevation to the papacy.
The 69-year-old Chicago native is the 267th pontiff and is known as a moderate who was close to the late Pope Francis.
The White House has not commented on Pope Leo XIV’s past criticisms of the administration.

Historic Election of First American Pope

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago made history when he was elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church and the first American to ever hold the position. The 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. Following his election by the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV addressed the crowd from the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the conclave at The Vatican, marking a watershed moment for American Catholics and the global Church.

Known as a moderate with close ties to his predecessor Pope Francis, the new pontiff brings significant international experience to the role, including years as a missionary in Peru. This background gives him a unique perspective on global Catholicism at a time when the Church faces numerous challenges worldwide. As the first American to lead the nearly 1.4 billion Catholics around the globe, Pope Leo XIV’s election represents a significant shift in the Church’s leadership, which has historically been dominated by European cardinals.

President Donald Trump says it's a 'great honor' to have an American pope and says 'they've already called' when asked about potential meeting

READ: https://t.co/zXHmXrIPuF pic.twitter.com/KMdxgO9NGH

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 8, 2025

Trump’s Congratulatory Message

President Donald Trump quickly acknowledged the historic significance of the appointment, posting a congratulatory message on his Truth Social platform. Despite previous tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican, the president’s message struck a tone of national pride and anticipation for future dialogue with the new Catholic leader. Trump’s statement emphasized the appointment as a milestone for the United States, indicating his readiness to establish a working relationship with the new pontiff. “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,” Trump said in a statement on his social media platform Truth Social.”

Vice President JD Vance also extended his congratulations, adopting a more religious tone in his message. “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!” Vance wrote, appealing to the religious sentiments of American Catholics while diplomatically avoiding any reference to past disagreements.

History of Criticism and Potential Challenges

The cordial tone of the administration’s congratulations stands in contrast to Pope Leo XIV’s previous criticism of Trump and Vance. Before his election to the papacy, Cardinal Prevost had been vocal on social media about his disagreements with the administration’s immigration policies. In 2015, he shared an opinion piece criticizing Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, and more recently, in February 2025, he highlighted an article challenging Vance’s interpretation of Catholic teachings on immigration.

These past criticisms reflect broader tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration. The late Pope Francis frequently clashed with Trump and Vance over immigration policies and cuts to foreign aid and welfare programs. Despite Vice President Vance being one of the last officials to meet Pope Francis before his death at 88, fundamental disagreements remained. The White House has not commented on Pope Leo XIV’s past criticisms, choosing instead to focus on the historic nature of the appointment.

A New Chapter in Vatican-U.S. Relations

As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, observers are watching closely to see how his leadership might influence the Catholic Church’s stance on various issues and its relationship with the United States. His elevation to the papacy comes at a time of significant political and social division, both within the Church and globally. As an American with extensive international experience, Pope Leo XIV is uniquely positioned to bridge different perspectives while maintaining the Church’s traditional teachings.

The new pope’s social media history reveals a leader who, while not exceptionally active online in recent years, has not hesitated to engage with contemporary social and political issues when he felt Catholic values were at stake. This suggests he may continue the outspoken advocacy that characterized Pope Francis’s papacy, while potentially bringing new insights as the first American to lead the Church. For American Catholics, who make up approximately 23% of the U.S. population, the election represents a moment of particular pride.