Leo is America's first pope. His worldview appears at odds with 'America First.'

Source: Politico

Leo is America’s first pope. His worldview appears at odds with ‘America First.’

Steve Bannon called Leo the “worst pick for MAGA Catholics.”

By Megan Messerly, Rachael Bade and Eli Stokols

05/08/2025 06:57 PM EDT

When the late Pope Francis challenged Donald Trump on immigration, climate change and poverty during the president’s first term, the White House and its allies responded with a collective shrug.

But with Catholic Cardinals choosing an American to lead the Church for the first time in its history, that will change. The Chicago-born Robert Prevost, America’s first pope, has a worldview that appears to be at odds with “America First.”

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But it’s not difficult to imagine the looming conflicts to come. Like his predecessor, Leo hails from a more progressive, inclusive wing of Catholicism, preaching peace and the importance of building bridges in his first address from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, though it appears he still holds traditional Catholic views on LGBTQ+ issues.

Already, the pope is earning enemies in his homeland as conservative Catholics in Washington, D.C., sent flurries of texts Thursday afternoon sharing posts from a social media account under Leo’s name criticizing Trump and Vice President JD Vance. POLITICO has not been able to independently confirm the authenticity of the account. The Vatican press office, the Vatican’s embassy to the U.S. and the diocese in Chicago and Peru did not respond to questions.

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Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/08/leo-american-pope-worldview-00337247