Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American pope, was elected as Pope Leo XIV, leading the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago, Prevost has been vocal about his opposition to Donald Trump’s immigration policies, criticizing the Trump administration for its treatment of immigrants. He shared articles condemning Trump’s actions, including a 2018 post calling the policy of separating children from parents “un-Christian.”
Prevost, who spent much of his career in Latin America, particularly Peru, expressed solidarity with DACA recipients and the migrant crisis. Despite his criticism of Trump, both Trump and JD Vance congratulated him on his election.
In his first speech as pope, Leo XIV emphasized peace and communication, using Spanish and Italian. His election was a surprise due to the long-standing tradition against electing American popes.