Pope Leo XIV’s Previous Tweets Resurface, Highlighting Opposition to Trump-Era Immigration Actions
In a momentous shift for the Catholic Church, the election of Pope Leo XIV—the first U.S.-born pontiff—has not only marked a historic milestone but also stirred political discussion due to his past social media activity criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was elected on Thursday, just two days into the conclave, surprising many Vatican watchers who hadn’t listed him among the frontrunners.
The 69-year-old Chicago native was swiftly chosen by Catholic cardinals after an inconclusive first ballot and he emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, signaling consensus.
What’s captured attention beyond the Vatican walls, however, is the new pope’s online record.
Prior to his election, Prevost was an active voice on X, where he repeatedly shared posts critical of the Trump administration’s immigration stance.
His final repost before being elevated was a commentary by Catholic journalist Rocco Palmo, criticizing Trump’s deportation collaboration with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
The post featured a searing quote from DC Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
In another retweet, Jesuit priest James Martin condemned the 2017 refugee bans, saying, “What an immoral nation we are becoming. Jesus weeps.”
He also shared a 2018 post from Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich that sharply condemned the Trump administration’s immigration policy, accusing it of taking “children away from their parents and warehousing them in cages.”
On Feb. 3, he shared an article headlined “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” published by the National Catholic Reporter.
The piece challenged a January Fox News interview in which Vice President JD Vance said Christians should prioritize love for country before others—a view the article openly rebuked.
Prevost’s papal name, Leo XIV, is believed by some Vatican insiders to reference Leo XIII, who championed workers’ rights and held one of the longest papacies in history.
The new pope’s first blessing was delivered in Latin, Italian and Spanish—despite being fluent in English, according to the Associated Press.
Though born in the U.S., Pope Leo XIV has spent most of his life abroad, particularly in Latin America, where he served three decades as a missionary in Peru.
That overseas experience is now viewed as critical, especially amid the Church’s efforts to expand its global relevance and modernize leadership structures.
In 2023, Prevost was tapped to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican department responsible for vetting and appointing senior clergy worldwide, per the National Catholic Reporter.
He also helped implement one of Pope Francis’ most groundbreaking reforms, including women in the bishop selection process for the first time.
Now, as Pope Leo XIV, he inherits a Church navigating cultural upheaval, political tensions and calls for reform.
Whether his past public views will influence his leadership remains to be seen—but his voice, already global in reach, now carries even greater weight.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Leave a Comment