Pope Leo’s impact on American politics
Even before he became the first American pope, Leo XIV was unashamed to criticize some of the Trump administration’s policies.
Vice President J.D. Vice President J.D. Vice President Vance witnessed the end of one Pope when he visited Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, just before the death of the clergy.
Now, less than a month later, there is another Vance traveling to Rome again.
It’s a moment to celebrate the new leaders of 1.4 billion Catholics. According to the Vatican news site, the “silent liturgy” of St. Peter’s Cathedral and Square marks the “official beginning of Pope Leo XIV.” Vance watches with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, their wife and world leaders.
For Trump and his team, the trip also managed to set the tone of relations with the administration with the Vatican, which was tense under Francis.
“It was a difference in principle,” said Peter Casarella, professor of Duke Theology.
Trump and Francis repeatedly clashed with immigration. Francis became Pope in 2013 and spoke in 2016 when Trump first ran for president and pledged to build a wall on the southern border.
“People who are only thinking about building walls are not Christians wherever they are,” Francis said at the time.
This year, Francis said on the eve of his inauguration about Trump’s massive deportation plan: “If that’s true, it’s going to be dishonorable.” Francis was also a powerful advocate for tackling climate change, which Trump calls a “hoax.”
Trump fought back against Francis in 2016, saying, “It’s dishonorable for religious leaders to question people’s faith.” It is still possible to see whether his relationship with Leo differs, but the new Pope appears to share Francis’ views.
Leo said the dignity of immigrants should be respected in his first speech to the world diplomats on May 16th.
Those who know the new Pope say he is committed to social justice and helping immigrants. Regarding the church’s position on immigration, Casarella said, “The lines are drawn, they will not change.” That could mean an increase in friction with the Trump administration under Leo.
Leo shared his criticisms of Vance and Trump on social media before becoming Pope.
On April 14, Leo retweeted criticism of Trump and President Naibu Buquere’s reaction to the TControversial Deportation of Maryland resident El Salvadoran National Kilmer Abrego Garcia. Ten years ago, Leo shared X’s 2015 column, then Twitter. This was written by fellow cardinals with the headline “Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.”
Leo also shared an opinion piece critical of Vance’s interpretation of Scripture and immigrants. “JD Vance is wrong. Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” read one headline posted on February 3rd.
“There’s no more war,” Pope Leo XIV says in his first Sunday message
Pope Leo XIV addressed the crammed square of St. Peter, reflecting his predecessor, Pope Francis’ repeated theme, an urgent plea for peace.
“There has been a long-standing disagreement between Vice President Vance and the Holy See on how to interpret Catholic teaching,” Casarella said.
Asked about the dynamics between Vance and New Pope, the Vice President’s office mentioned a social media post congratulating Leo on May 8th.
“Millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the church. May God bless him!” Vance wrote.
Trump has also expressed his warm wishes to Leo. His administration has dispelled the Pope’s past social media activities.
“I think it was a surprise to everyone,” White House press director Carolyn Levitt said of Leo’s social media post. “But that’s great for the United States and the world,” she said of the first US-born pope.
It will be closely monitored whether Leo continues to put a weight on American politics. The Chicago native was the first American Pope and had a strong interest in America with his appointment. He is likely to visit the United States in the first few years of the Pope, Casarella said, and said he could make many trips to the country.
The dynamics between the Trump administration and Leo are not the only source of potential tensions in travel.
Rubio is a potential Vance rival to the 2028 GOP presidential nomination. Trump surprised the story of his rival in a recent interview when he nominated both Vance and Rubio as successors to the oval office.
Vance dismissed the idea that Trump is creating tension between him and Rubio.
“It’s not everything,” he told Fox News. “Marco is probably my best friend in the administration. We always hang out and talk. He does a really good job.”
Top Catholics of Trump
Vance and Rubio are the most prominent Catholics of the Trump administration and his leading agents in diplomacy. They were a logical choice to represent Trump at Mass, said Joel Goldstein, a professor at St. Louis University who studies the vice president.
There is also a “political resonance potential” on the trip, as both men are considered the leading candidates for the 2028 GOP president nod, Goldstein added.
But each has made Catholic faith a big part of their political identity, and when they run for president, it will likely continue and make their first trip to make the new Pope a potential touchstone in future campaigns.
“This is an old story about a Catholic politician who uses faith and expresses his faith. They should,” Casarella said.
Vance’s trip continues his strip of prominent foreign visits, including stops in Greenland and appearances in Munich and his blew European officials out on the grass at his home as Trump talks about gaining Danish territory.
Contributors: Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers, Reuters
