'First American Pope' Leo XIV Draws Attention for Anti-Trump Record

President Trump: "It is an honor... I look forward to meeting him"

On the 8th (local time), Robert Francis Prevost, former cardinal (Leo XIV), who was elected as the next pope, is waving to the crowd in Vatican City. Photo by Xinhua Yonhap News

On the 8th (local time), Robert Francis Prevost, former cardinal (Leo XIV), who was elected as the first American pope, drew significant attention for his previously critical stance on the Trump administration's immigration policies and other issues, raising interest in his future actions.

According to Time magazine and The New York Times on this day, Leo XIV had publicly criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies before ascending to the papacy.

In 2015, he posted a statement regarding President Trump's anti-immigration policies, describing them as "problematic" and saying they "fuel anti-immigrant sentiment." He also directly addressed U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who justified the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration on the grounds of Catholic faith, stating, "Jesus never told us to rank our love for our neighbors."

Immediately before being elected pope, Leo XIV also posted criticism of President Trump for making light of the forced deportation of undocumented immigrants in a scene with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. In March, the U.S. government, in an effort to accelerate the deportation of undocumented immigrants, transferred 238 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador's Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) in an "outsourcing" arrangement, citing the "Enemy Nationals Act," which allows for the expedited removal of enemy nationals during wartime.

Time noted that the tense relationship between Leo XIV, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, and President Trump is expected to have a clear impact on international affairs and U.S. domestic politics. Catholics in the U.S. make up about 20% of the total population and approximately 25% of the electorate, representing a key political group.

His predecessor, the late Pope Francis, had also clashed with President Trump over immigration and human rights issues during Trump's first term. Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, chose Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean?the gateway for refugees heading to Europe?as his first destination after being elected pope in 2013. His final message was also directed toward immigrants and the poor. The New York Times reported, "Until the pope's last day, the two leaders clashed over immigration," adding, "Both considered this issue central to their mission and legacy."

President Trump welcomed the election of a pope from his own country. On his social media platform, Truth Social, he stated, "It is truly an honor to learn that he is the first American pope," and added, "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.