The newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is making headlines—not just for being the first American pope, but for his outspoken digital footprint before ascending to the papacy.

Old social media posts show he publicly criticized Trump-era immigration policies, expressed support for racial justice, and shared content challenging Republican narratives. In 2015, he reposted a Washington Post article titled, “Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic”, signaling his stance without comment.

His 2020 post during the George Floyd protests read: “Thank you! We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice.” Another retweet condemned child separations at the border: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages.”

Political Reactions

Reactions in the U.S. were swift. President Trump congratulated him as the first American Pope, calling it “an honor.” Vice President J.D. Vance said: “May God bless him.” But others, like Laura Loomer, lashed out: “He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA… Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.”