Politics
NEW: Pope Leo XIV’s Past Tweets Reveal Political Leanings
Following the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV—the first American pontiff in the Roman Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history—social media sleuths unearthed several retweets that paint a clearer picture of where the new pope once stood on hot-button political issues. St. Peter’s Successor appears to have voted as a Republican in America, but has also expressed progressive stances in public posts.
Among them: a 2017 retweet condemning President Donald Trump’s use of the phrase “bad hombres” in reference to illegal immigration, calling it a driver of “racism and nativism.” Another tweet he reshared at the time came from Sister Helen Prejean, known for her progressive advocacy, expressing support for DACA recipients and calling for an immigration system that is “fair, just, and moral.” The post was hashtagged with “#DefendDACA.”
Prevost also retweeted a message from the Laudato Si’ Movement directed at Trump during a Vatican visit, urging him to read Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change and take action. The tweet, dated June 2017, included a photo of the president being presented with a copy of Laudato Si’, a document that sparked debate within Catholic and political circles over the Church’s position on environmental activism.
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The resurfaced tweets stand in contrast with President Trump’s enthusiastic congratulatory message Thursday on Truth Social, where he called Prevost’s election “a Great Honor for our Country” and said he looked forward to meeting the new pontiff. “It will be a very meaningful moment!” Trump added.
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Despite Leo XIV’s progressive stances on some issues, he appears to have voted strictly Republican during his time living stateside, a welcome sign for conservatives and traditional Catholics. Sleuths within Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point Action team located the Pope’s voting history.
Prevost, 69, was elected as the 267th pope following four rounds of voting inside the Sistine Chapel. When white smoke billowed from the chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, the world knew a new pontiff had been chosen. Moments later, he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and delivered a brief but powerful message: “Peace be with you.” He spoke of reconciliation and unity, vowing to carry forward the mission of Pope Francis.
From that same balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor’s legacy before turning to the road ahead.
“We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,” he told the massive crowd below. While speaking, he urged the faithful to “show our charity” to others “and be in dialogue with love.”
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Born in Chicago, Prevost brings a distinctly American voice to the papacy, but one forged through decades of international service. He spent more than a decade in Peru as a missionary and seminary rector, and later led the Dicastery for Bishops, where he was instrumental in shaping the global leadership of the Church. His pastoral background and multilingual fluency made him a standout among Vatican insiders, though he was not seen as a frontrunner heading into the conclave.
Trump and Pope Francis often clashed over immigration, border policy, and global warming during their overlapping tenures. Pope Leo XIV now steps into that dynamic with a past paper trail on social media that, fairly or not, will be seen by some as aligning with Francis’s agenda.
The year ahead promises to be critical. The Vatican will host millions of pilgrims for the 2025 Jubilee, and the Church is under mounting pressure to address internal divisions, declining Western attendance, and its role in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.
