The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Credit: Christopher Furlong / Getty
A Donald Trump supporter labeled Pope Leo XIV as an “anti-MAGA woke Marxist puppet” just hours after the historic election.
On May 8, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the conclave of 133 cardinals had made its decision.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born cleric, Robert Prevost, was announced as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church and introduced as Pope Leo XIV.
His first words from St. Peter’s Basilica were filled with unity and peace: “Peace be with all of you. Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you.”
While President Donald Trump quickly praised the appointment of Pope Leo XIV, calling it a “Great Honor for our Country” and expressing eagerness to meet the new pope, far-right commentator Laura Loomer took a far less congratulatory stance.
Loomer, who has been banned from various social platforms for her inflammatory rhetoric, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the new pontiff. She wrote: “THIS IS THE NEW POPE! His name is Robert Prevost. He’s the first American Pope. He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis.”
“Catholics don’t have anything good to look forward to. Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican,” Loomer added.
The backlash stems from Prevost’s past criticism of Trump-era immigration policies. He had previously reshared a tweet condemning the separation of migrant children from their families, calling it “morally indefensible.” He also reposted an op-ed criticizing Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, and questioned whether Trump’s administration understood the suffering caused by their policies.
Despite the criticism, Pope Leo XIV’s election is seen as a historic moment.
His decision to take the name “Leo” connects him to Pope Leo XIII, the 19th-century pontiff known for his intellectual influence and the landmark social doctrine encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Vatican spokesperson Father Vito Crincoli explained, “Looking to history, Leos were strong popes. Like Leo XIII, he loved his people. His people, he considered man not a machine. A man’s work was a reflection of his dignity.”
In his first remarks, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of a welcoming Church: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, a Church always open to receive people, like this square, with open arms.”
He also expressed gratitude to his former diocese in Peru, thanking “a loyal people” who “shared its faith and has given a lot.”
Though considered progressive on some issues, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a centrist leader capable of bridging internal divisions within the Church.
He has supported women’s inclusion in Vatican leadership, calling for their participation to be “real, genuine, and meaningful,” and acknowledged the need for continued progress on clerical abuse reform.
His decision to take the name “Leo” connects him to Pope Leo XIII, the 19th-century pontiff known for his intellectual influence and the landmark social doctrine encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Vatican spokesperson Father Vito Crincoli explained, “Looking to history, Leos were strong popes. Like Leo XIII, he loved his people. His people, he considered man not a machine. A man’s work was a reflection of his dignity.”
In his first remarks, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of a welcoming Church: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, a Church always open to receive people, like this square, with open arms.”
He also expressed gratitude to his former diocese in Peru, thanking “a loyal people” who “shared its faith and has given a lot.”
Though considered progressive on some issues, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a centrist leader capable of bridging internal divisions within the Church.
