The headlines were basically screaming. People were losing their minds on Truth Social and X, formerly Twitter, convinced that the world of global religion had just been flipped on its head by a single presidential endorsement. "Trump picks the new Pope!" "American Pope Leo XIV: A MAGA Victory?" Honestly, it’s wild how fast a narrative can travel when it taps into the specific chaos of 2026.
But here is the thing: Donald Trump didn't actually "pick" the Pope. He can't. Nobody in the White House can, no matter how much they might want to or how much influence they think they have over the 1.4 billion Catholics globally.
The Reality of Pope Leo XIV and the 2025 Conclave
Let's clear the air. In May 2025, after the passing of Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals did something they haven't done in the entire history of the Catholic Church. They elected an American. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary who spent decades in the trenches in Peru, emerged from the Sistine Chapel as Pope Leo XIV.
Trump was ecstatic. He called it a "Great Honor" and "exciting" for the country. Because Leo XIV is American, a lot of folks started assuming there was some backroom deal or that the Trump administration had somehow installed "their guy" in the Vatican. That's just not how the Holy See works. The selection process—the Conclave—is one of the most secretive and insulated events on the planet.
✨ Don't miss: Which States Do Not Require Voter ID: What Most People Get Wrong
The cardinals are literally locked in (cum clave, "with a key") under Michelangelo’s "Last Judgment." They don't have iPhones. They aren't checking Truth Social for "endorsements." They vote until someone gets a two-thirds majority. The fact that they chose an American while an American-centric "America First" administration was in power in D.C. is what historians call a "massive coincidence," not a political appointment.
Why the "Trump's Pick" Narrative Stuck
Kinda makes sense why people are confused, though. Trump’s reaction was so loud and celebratory that it felt like a victory lap. He basically treated the election of Leo XIV like he’d just won a swing state.
- The Chicago Connection: Leo XIV was born in Chicago. For a President who constantly talks about American excellence, having the "Leader of the Free World" and the "Vicar of Christ" both be Americans was a PR dream.
- The JD Vance Factor: Don't forget, Vice President JD Vance is a devout Catholic. His conversion and his public statements about Catholic social teaching have made the administration feel "more Catholic" than any Republican ticket in recent memory.
- The Timing: The election happened just months after Trump's second inauguration. The political energy in the U.S. was at a fever pitch.
But if you look at the actual policies, the "honeymoon" between the White House and the Vatican wasn't exactly a candlelit dinner.
Where the Vatican and the White House Actually Clash
If Trump really "picked" Leo XIV, he might be asking for a refund right about now. Since taking the Throne of Peter, Pope Leo XIV hasn't exactly been a rubber stamp for the administration's agenda.
In late 2025, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a pretty scathing "special message" regarding the administration’s immigration crackdown and mass deportations. They talked about the "vilification" of migrants. And guess who backed them up? Pope Leo XIV.
He told reporters at Castel Gandolfo that people should "listen to the bishops" and emphasized that even if people are in the U.S. illegally, they must be treated with "dignity and respect." He didn't hold back. He’s also been vocal about Trump's Ukraine peace plan, suggesting it could weaken the alliance between Europe and the U.S.
So, while Trump celebrates the identity of an American Pope, he’s actively sparring with the theology of that same Pope. It’s a messy, complicated relationship that doesn't fit into a neat "pro-Trump" or "anti-Trump" box.
The 2026 Shift: Dialogue or Deadlock?
Recently, in January 2026, we saw a slight shift. Archbishop Paul Coakley, the head of the USCCB, actually sat down with Trump and Vance in the White House. It was the first time in nearly a decade that the head of the U.S. bishops had a formal face-to-face with a sitting president.
They’re trying to find common ground on things like:
📖 Related: Zach Bowen New Orleans: What Most People Get Wrong About the Rampart Street Tragedy
- Pro-Life issues: Though even here, the Church is unhappy with Trump’s stance on IVF and certain reproductive technologies.
- Religious Liberty: Both sides agree that religious institutions should have more freedom from government mandates.
- School Choice: A big win for Catholic parochial schools that the administration is pushing hard.
What Most People Get Wrong About Papal Politics
The biggest misconception is that the Pope is a political figure in the way a Senator is. He isn't. Leo XIV is a "Son of the Church" first and an American second. His "policy" is the Gospel, which often makes him a thorn in the side of both the left and the right.
He supports the poor and migrants (which upsets the right) but he’s also staunchly opposed to gender-affirming care and maintains a traditional view of marriage (which upsets the left). He’s not "Trump’s Pope." He’s just... the Pope.
Actionable Insights: How to Follow Vatican-U.S. Relations
If you're trying to keep up with how this actually impacts policy in 2026, stop looking at the celebratory tweets and start looking at the official documents.
- Watch the USCCB Statements: The U.S. bishops are the boots on the ground. When they disagree with the administration on immigration or healthcare, the Pope almost always has their back.
- Look for the Social Encyclical: Word is Leo XIV is dropping a major document on Artificial Intelligence later this year. This will likely be the first time the Vatican sets a hard line on tech, which will definitely clash with the deregulation vibes in D.C.
- Follow the "Special Envoys": Watch people like Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. They are the ones doing the real diplomatic heavy lifting in places like Ukraine and Venezuela, often working in parallel—or in opposition—to State Department goals.
Ultimately, the idea of "Trump's pick for Pope" is a myth born out of a very loud political moment. The reality is far more interesting: an American Pope who loves his country but isn't afraid to call out its leader when he thinks the soul of the nation is at stake.
To stay truly informed, you should prioritize reading the official transcripts of the Pope’s Wednesday audiences and the press releases from the Holy See Press Office, rather than relying on secondary political commentary which often filters the Pope's words through a partisan lens.