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Topics: Community, Donald Trump, LGBTQ, Racism, Religion, US News, World News, Pope Leo
The newly elected Pope has previously shared criticism of Donald Trump.
As white smoke came out the chimney at the Vatican yesterday (8 May), it was later announced that Cardinal Robert Prevost had been elected as head of the Catholic Church.
The first American to be made Pope, he chose his papal name to be Leo XIV and was met by cheers as people gathered in the Vatican, eagerly awaiting the news.
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Born in Chicago, experts say the 69-year-old’s choice of name signifies a commitment to dynamic social issues. Although he is an American, he has Peruvian nationality and the Vatican described him as the second Pope from the Americas (Francis was, of course, Argentinian).
And while Trump celebrates his election, Prevost has previously shared highly critical posts about the president as tweets resurface.
Prevost is said to be something of a centrist and is described as rather similar to the late Pope Francis in his views on migrants, poverty and the environment.
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His name also nods to what we may expect from him as Former Archbishop of Boston Seán Patrick O'Malley wrote on his blog that the new leader ‘has chosen a name widely associated with the social justice legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who was pontiff at a time of epic upheaval in the world, the time of the industrial revolution, the beginning of Marxism, and widespread immigration.'
Speaking about climate change last year, Prevost said it was time to make moves ‘from words to action’. When it comes to LGBTQ+ views, in 2012 he expressed criticism of entertainment media that had 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,' which included the 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.' Whether those views have changed overtime is yet to be see.
The role of women in the Church is also something eyes are on the new Pope Leo XIV for and he supported his predecessor’s devision to allow women to join the Dicastery for Bishops for the first time.
In 2023, he told Vatican News: “On several occasions we have seen that their point of view is an enrichment.”
Prevost previously shared criticism for Trump and is found to have retweeted posts about his ‘bad hombres’ quote fuelling racism as he shared messages in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
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One pretty damning post he reshared from Cardinal Blase J. Cupich in 2018 read: “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.”
His most recent repost was in April as a user called out the US and El Salvadoran presidents by name and asked: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscious not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
And on 3 February, he reshared an article with the headline: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
Having previously described himself as a ‘non-denominational Christian,' Trump celebrated the news of an American Head of the Catholic Church with a post on Truth Social.
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He wrote last night: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”