We've Got Our Own Pope: The American-Born Pontiff and the Bold President
Pope Francis Confronts President Trump on Contentious Issues - U.S. Pope Pride: American Catholic Leadership Meets with Resilient Commander-in-Chief
Let's get this show on the road!
The United States under the presidential reign of Donald Trump has been nothing short of a spectacle - now they've added another act: the Pope. For the very first time, a US citizen takes on this renowned title in the Catholic Church's history. In the heart of Washington, a Catholic woman named Dawn chuckles outside St. Matthew's Church and admits she almost burst into "God Bless America" upon hearing about Robert Prevost's election as Pope Leo XIV. "But honestly, it's not just about being an American Pope – that'd be a real downer," she remarks.
Dawn, with her grayish locks and vibrant spirit, praises the new Pope's choice of name. Leo XIV echoes the tradition of Leo XIII, the former Pope who championed worker's rights and social justice – giving rise to hopeful expectations.
A mother and her adult daughter, close by, can't help but rush to the next church upon receiving news from Rome. The mother, Teresa, gushes that they couldn't wait to learn about the new Pope and the Church's direction. They admired Pope Francis, as he symbolized compassion and mercy. While they're thrilled about an American Pope, they stress that nationality shouldn't overshadow the essence of the Pontiff.
Donald Trump, no stranger to the limelight, instantly sparked discussion with his announcement on Truth Social, expressing excitement about the "first American Pope." This is a "great honor" for the US, he wrote, hinting at his eagerness to meet the new Pontiff.
A man of faith, Trump is not a Catholic like his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV. His religious fervor has been questioned, with Evangelical Christians, an essential voting base, being increasingly wary of his tactless remarks towards religious sentiments. One example is when Trump offended many Catholics by sharing an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope, triggering a demand for an apology from the US Bishop, who described it as offensive and tactless.
Trump's sense of humor didn't win over everyone, either; his previous joke about wanting to be the Pope himself had left some believers unmoved.
The friendship between the new Pope and Trump remains to be seen. During the race for the position of head of the Catholic Church, another American candidate, known to be more conservative and endorsed by Trump, was also in contention. As a Cardinal, Robert Prevost had publicly criticized Trump's Vice, JD Vance, whose Catholic stance on love for others was challenged by Prevost in an opinion piece on X-platform, stating that Jesus does not rank love for others according to categories.
Vance met with Prevost's predecessor, Pope Francis, before his demise in the Vatican. The conversation delved into various topics such as migrants, refugees, and people in prison. The new pope, too, seems hesitant about the US government's migration policy, reflecting in critical posts about it that he shared on his X-account.
Protestantism remains the dominant Christian denomination in the US.
The selection of a US-American as the Pope just a few months after Joe Biden's departure from the White House presents an ironic twist. Biden is a devout Catholic and the second Catholic president in US history, following John F. Kennedy (1961-1963). Both Biden and his wife Jill traveled to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral, narrowly missing the historical moment for American Catholics and the nation as a whole.
According to polls, around 20% of Americans identify as Catholic. The Catholic Church in the US has faced deep crises in recent years, with numerous abuse scandals emerging, some of which had been covered up for decades.
With a new Pope at the helm, some American Catholics seek a fresh perspective on the Church in the US and the nation at large. Elektra, a student who visited the Washington church alongside her mother, is hopeful that Leo XIV will offer a "merciful portrayal of the US" to the world. "It's my hope that the Pope embodies that positive image and spreads it worldwide – in a time when everything's uncertain, and there's so much confusion."
- Dawn's expectations for Pope Leo XIV are hopeful, as his choice of the name Leo XIV echoes the tradition of Leo XIII, who championed workers' rights and social justice.
- Despite being thrilled about an American Pope, Teresa and her daughter emphasize that nationality shouldn't overshadow the essence of the Pontiff.
- Donald Trump, upon learning about Pope Leo XIV's election, expressed excitement about the "first American Pope" on Truth Social, but his religious fervor has been questioned, with some religious groups being increasingly wary of his tactless remarks towards religious sentiments.
- The selection of a US citizen as Pope just a few months after Joe Biden's departure from the White House presents an ironic twist, as Biden is a devout Catholic and the second Catholic president in US history.
