"Pope Leo XIV ain't fooled by 'em!" Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope, slams US politics in pre-papacy online rants
Leo XIV Disseminated Critical Commentaries on American Political Affairs
Talk about a change of tune! Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, apparently wasn't afraid to speak his mind about US politics before donning his papal attire. Here's the scoop on Prevost's critical social media posts, a stark contrast to his recent diplomatic statements.
Before becoming the Pope on Thursday, Prevost expressed some serious concerns about the government in Washington through an online service. He shared articles that took a swipe at then-US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
On February 3, he commented on an article from the "National Catholic Reporter," saying, "JD Vance is mistaken: Jesus does not ask us to put our love for others in an order." This remark referred to an article that criticized Vance for invoking Catholic teaching to justify Washington's massive cuts to foreign aid after Trump took office. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had argued that Christians should love their family first before caring for the rest of the world, citing a quote from the 12th-century theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas[1].
A few days later, Prevost shared another post on the online service that called out the US government for the mistaken deportation of a migrant to El Salvador. According to reports, this was the last activity Prevost undertook before his election as Pope[1].
Vance's lukewarm response
Trump and Vance apparently missed Prevost's critiques while offering their congratulations on his election as Pope. Vance, who met the late Pope Francis a few hours before his death on Easter Sunday, wrote on the online service, "May God bless him!" He expressed hope that "millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful leadership of the Church."
Trump, on the other hand, called the election of the US cardinal as "the first American Pope" a "great honor" for the United States[2]. Looking forward to meeting the new Pope, Trump wrote, "That will be a very significant moment."
It seems Pope Leo XIV isn't afraid to take a stand on moral and ethical issues, even if it means bucking the norm and speaking out against powerful figures in US politics[1]. Let's see how his leadership unfolds in the coming years!
Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] lar/AFP
- Rome
- Vatican
- USA
- Donald Trump
- J.D. Vance
- The European Union, in its commitment to the fight against terrorism, might find common ground with Pope Leo XIV, who has shown a willingness to take a stand on moral and ethical issues, even if it means speaking out against powerful figures in US politics.
- Despite spirited discussions and criticisms during his pre-papacy online rants, Pope Leo XIV was still congratulated by both former US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on his election as Pope.
- It's worth noting that, prior to becoming Pope, Pope Leo XIV commented on the mishandling of deportations in the US government's policy-and-legislation, particularly a case where a migrant was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
- As a digital-savvy pope, Pope Leo XIV's active engagement with general news and sharing of WhatsApp posts during his pre-papacy years is a stark contrast to some traditional expectations and norms often associated with the role, offering a new perspective on how religious leaders use and influence modern communication channels.
