America’s First Pope Challenges Trump-Era Immigration Policies
In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago was elected as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, becoming the first American to lead the world’s 1.41 billion Catholics. But despite his nationality, Pope Leo XIV is making headlines for taking a firm stand against the immigration crackdowns championed by former President Donald Trump.
The 69-year-old pontiff, a former missionary known for his compassion and progressive views, has been outspoken on social media about the human cost of harsh immigration policies. His final retweet before ascending to the papacy spotlighted the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 30-year-old undocumented father of three from Maryland who was deported to El Salvador during the Trump administration. The tweet read powerfully:
“Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
Pope Leo XIV has also called attention to Catholic voices supporting restrictive immigration measures, including U.S. Senator JD Vance. He reposted an article titled, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” signaling his disagreement with policies that pit compassion against control.
Long before his election, the new pope had expressed unwavering support for DACA recipients—immigrants brought to the U.S. as children—describing their cause as a moral imperative rooted in Christian values.
With his election, the Catholic Church enters a new chapter—one led by a shepherd unafraid to confront political power in the name of mercy and justice.
Pope Leo XIV: An American Pontiff with a Latin Heart Challenges Trump-Era Immigration Legacy
The world watched in astonishment as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. But what truly shocked the faithful was the name announced: Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born prelate, now known as Pope Leo XIV—the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Yet this historic moment came with a twist: despite his U.S. roots, Pope Leo has been one of the most outspoken critics of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Fluent in Spanish and steeped in Latin American culture, Leo XIV’s worldview was shaped not by Washington but by years of missionary work in Peru, a country where he eventually gained citizenship and served as Archbishop of Chiclayo. His empathy for displaced communities runs deep, and his social media presence reveals a leader unafraid to speak truth to power.
In a 2018 post that resonated worldwide, he wrote:
“There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name, and the shame is on us all.”
That same year, he shared a letter from Peruvian Catholic leaders thanking the Trump administration for ending family separation—but not without critique. The letter called out the cruelty of such policies and reminded the U.S. of Latin America’s own history of welcoming migrants fleeing crisis, particularly Venezuelans seeking refuge in Peru. “We here in Peru and in neighboring countries have welcomed them to help them overcome, through our means, their issues,” the letter read.
Known affectionately in Latin America as Padre Bob, Pope Leo’s dual identity as both American and Peruvian gives him a rare perspective. His choice to speak in both Italian and Spanish during his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica was no accident—it was a clear nod to his global and multicultural background.
The crowd in the square chanted, “Leon! Leon!” Many stood stunned. “An American?” they whispered. But insiders were less surprised. Long regarded as the “least American of the Americans,” Prevost had quietly emerged as a favored candidate among both Latin and North American cardinals. Twice elected Prior General of the Augustinian order and handpicked by Pope Francis to oversee the Diocese of Chiclayo, his rise reflects a continuity with Francis’s reformist legacy.
Still, Leo XIV’s election broke a long-standing unwritten rule: no American pope. Historically, the Vatican resisted U.S. candidates, wary of aligning too closely with the world’s dominant superpower. Yet Leo’s Peruvian citizenship, his missionary past, and his reputation for humility and reform helped set him apart.
Even political figures who once clashed with his views offered public congratulations. Former President Donald Trump praised the moment as a “Great Honor for our Country,” saying, “I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Vice President JD Vance echoed the sentiment, calling on “millions of American Catholics and other Christians” to pray for the new pope’s leadership.
Despite avoiding divisive commentary on issues like same-sex unions or female ordination, Leo XIV’s election sends a clear message: the Catholic Church remains committed to global compassion, not nationalist ideology.
As he addressed the crowd from the loggia in his crimson papal cape—a garment Pope Francis notably rejected—Leo XIV’s first words as pope were simple but powerful:
“Peace be with you.”
He pledged a mission centered on peace, dialogue, and global evangelization.
And as the cheers of “Viva il papa!” rang out and nuns wept openly in the square, one thing became clear: this American pope is no political pawn—he’s a global shepherd, ready to lead with conviction, humility, and a heart rooted in Latin America.
The senior cardinal deacon arrived on the loggia an hour later, saying “Habemus Papam!” and declaring Prevost the winner. Tens of thousands of people, waving flags from all around the world, waited to find out who had won.
He did not use English when addressing the throng; instead, he used Spanish and Italian.
Leo XIII, an Italian who presided over the church from 1878 to 1903, was the final pope to use the name Leo. Leo’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which tackled capitalism and workers’ rights and moderated the church’s confrontational stance towards modernity, especially science and politics, laid the groundwork for contemporary Catholic social thinking.
