Pope Leo XIV Was Critical of J.D. Vance Shortly Before Winning Conclave Vote. Trump Wanted a Different American Cardinal

Following President Donald Trump's endorsement of the archetypal American-born pope, Pope Leo XIV , societal media users were speedy to observe that the caller pope had antecedently been captious of Vice President J.D. Vance.

In February, Leo, calved Robert Prevost successful Chicago, posted 2 quality articles to his X profile. One, titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't inquire america to fertile our emotion for others," refuted Vance's proclamation astir Christian priorities connected Fox News. The different delved deeper into the precocious Pope Francis' disapproval of Vance utilizing the Catholic conception of "ordo amoris" to warrant the Trump administration's migration policies.

Vance met with Pope Francis conscionable a fewer hours earlier the pontiff's decease connected Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The spiritual person initially dismissed the Catholic convert, but Vance was yet granted a backstage audience.

“I was blessed to spot him yesterday, though helium was evidently precise ill," Vance aboriginal shared connected societal media. "It was truly rather beautiful.”

Following the Vatican's announcement of Pope Leo's election, Trump took to societal media to observe the assignment of an American pope.

"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was conscionable named Pope," the president wrote on Truth Social. "It is specified an grant to recognize that helium is the archetypal American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look guardant to gathering Pope Leo XIV. It volition beryllium a precise meaningful moment!"

However, Trump initially had a antithetic American cardinal successful caput for the role. After joking with reporters up of the papal conclave that he'd similar to beryllium the adjacent pope, the president offered a hometown pick.

“I indispensable accidental we person a cardinal who happens to beryllium retired of a spot called New York who’s precise good,” helium noted, apt referring to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. “We’ll spot what happens.”

Dolan offered the invocation during Trump’s 2nd inauguration ceremonial successful January. He besides led Pope Francis’ ceremonial wide work astatine New York City’s celebrated St. Patrick’s Cathedral connected Saturday, April 26.

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Prior to the conclave, spiritual experts told PEOPLE that the assignment of an American pope was unlikely.

"I deliberation that there's nary accidental for an American pope conscionable due to the fact that the United States is already truthful almighty successful the world," said Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, a prof of Catholic studies astatine DePaul University.

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