VATICAN CITY — The election of Pope Leo XIV, a 69-year-old moderate from Chicago, marks a significant shift in the papacy, offering a contrasting leadership style to that of U.S. President Donald Trump. Leo, seen as a spiritual successor to Pope Francis, used his inaugural message to advocate for unity, echoing Francis’s theme of “building bridges not walls,” which was critical of Trump’s practices. As Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo openly criticized Trump and Vice President JD Vance, particularly regarding their stances on prioritizing national over international compassion.
Leo shares Francis’s deep empathy towards migrants, the poor, and those affected by the climate crisis, while also supporting women’s roles in the church. However, unlike Francis, he has not shown substantial support for LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting a more traditionalist stance in some areas. The conclave’s election of Leo is interpreted by some experts as a repudiation of Trump’s “authoritarianism.” Professor Steven Millies likened this choice to the selection of John Paul II, aimed at opposing the Soviet regime.
Others question whether the choice was primarily intended as a message against Trump, considering the short duration of Trump’s presidency compared to Leo’s potential papacy. Bishop Robert Barron described Leo as quiet yet confident, contrasting sharply with Trump’s more aggressive persona. Observers believe Leo will continue Francis’s agenda, which has often faced resistance from conservative U.S. Catholics.
As tensions between Leo and the Trump administration emerge, with potential clashes looming, many believers and observers await the unfolding dynamics of this new papacy against the backdrop of Trump’s leadership, hopeful for positive outcomes amidst the turbulence.
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