U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have welcomed the first-ever American pope, despite his criticism of their administration.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, whose name is Robert Prevost, appears skeptical of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
In a series of posts shared on what appears to be his X account, before he was elected by the conclave this week, Prevost reposted several scathing opinions.
Highlights
- JD Vance and Donald Trump congratulated newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever American pontiff, despite his past criticisms of their policies.
- Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost) has openly criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including the end of DACA protections.
- Prevost’s social media posts include rebukes of Vance’s Christian defense of Trump’s immigration stance and support for immigrant rights.
The new pontiff is a critic of Trump’s hardline immigration policies
Image credits: NurPhoto / Getty Images
His most recent reshare was in April after Trump met El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in the White House.
The post reads: “As Trump & Bukele use Oval to Feds’ illicit deportation of a US resident, once an undoc-ed Salvadoran himself, now-DC Aux +Evelio asks, ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’”
Other posts criticized Vance for using a Christian concept to defend Trump’s immigration policies.
Vance told Fox News in January: “There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
Prevost shared an article from the National Catholic Reporter, saying Vance was wrong and that “Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.”
Image credits: drprevost
His criticism of Trump goes as far back as his first administration.
In 2015, Prevost posted an op-ed from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of the New York Archdiocese, titled ‘Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.’
Other posts shared on the account include criticism of Trump for deciding to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2017.
DACA provided protection from deportation for two years, renewable for additional two-year periods, for undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children.
Prevost retweeted a post saying: “I stand with the #Dreamers and all people who are working towards an immigration system that is fair, just and moral. #DefendDACA #DACA.”
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
“Saying Trump’s ‘bad hombres’ line fuels ‘racism and nativism,’ Cali bishops send preemptive blast on DACA repeal,” another reshare read.
On Truth Social, Trump welcomed the first American 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,” he wrote.
“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!”
JD Vance said: “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 and Trump congratulated Pope Leo, while other Republicans were dismayed
Image credits: Donald Trump
Vance, who met with Pope Francis the day before his death on Easter Sunday, converted to the Catholic faith in 2019.
But some of Trump’s allies were not as quick to congratulate the new pope on his appointment.
“Worst pick ever,” Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist, posted on X.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer wrote: “He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis.
“Catholics don’t have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.”
Wealthy conservative U.S. Catholics, aligned with MAGA and tied to Project 2025, had traveled to Rome in the hope of backing a successor who aligned closely with their values.
Image credits: JDVance
But while Prevost is reportedly a Republican who shares a pro-life stance, his criticism of Trump’s policies may not be what they had hoped for.
Prevost, 69, previously lived and worked extensively in Peru, where he served as a missionary, seminary rector, and later bishop.
He was born in Chicago and was also Prior General of the Augustinians, and most recently led the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops.
Prevost is now facing accusations of failing to properly address sexual abuse claims during his time as Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
Survivors from the group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) allege that Prevost ignored or mishandled accusations against two priests, Ricardo Yesquén and Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles, who allegedly abused them in 2007, the Daily Mail reports.
The survivors claim that Prevost did not initiate an official investigation, despite the seriousness of the accusations.
It comes as a new law in Washington State requires priests to break the seal of confession and report any child abuse they hear about during confessions.
The move has raised concerns and legal challenges from the Catholic Church, but has been welcomed by child advocacy groups who say it is a critical step in protecting children.