THE NEW YORK TIMES: Unlike his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV enjoys growing support from a broad swath of conservative Catholics.
Donald Trump ascended to office 10 years ago while publicly jousting with Pope Francis, who was routinely making headlines for the progressive Catholicism he elevated, pushing the Roman Catholic Church to focus on climate change and the rights of immigrants. The pope suggested that Mr. Trump was “not Christian”; Mr. Trump fired back that Francis was “disgraceful.”
Mr. Trump capitalized on growing discontent among conservative Christians and won the White House. The chasm only further widened between the Vatican and conservative American Catholics, who often saw in Mr. Trump a champion.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected less than a year ago, is not Francis. For Mr. Trump, who is now in his second term, he presents a new foil at the Vatican with a markedly different standing among Catholics. As the first American in the seat of St. Peter, he has a native fluency in American politics and culture, and his leadership is supported across broad swaths of the American church.
This new dynamic was at play in a pointed exchange on Sunday night and Monday, when Mr. Trump unleashed a tirade on social media against Leo, who then stood his ground. » | Elizabeth Dias and Motoko Rich | Elizabeth Dias, the national religion correspondent, reported from Washington. Motoko Rich, the Rome bureau chief, reported from Algiers, where she is traveling with Pope Leo XIV. | Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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