In the Digital Age, Even Popes Leave a Trail: The Political Past of Pope Leo XIV Comes to Light

In this modern era, even the leaders of the Catholic Church are not immune to the digital footprint they leave behind. With the election of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, internet sleuths and journalists alike have unearthed a trove of past social media activity that provides rare and revealing insights into his political views. His online history includes clear moments of disagreement with the Trump administration and a consistent pattern of support for social justice, immigration reform, and environmental responsibility.

Barely had the white smoke risen above the Sistine Chapel before controversy surrounded the new pontiff. While his election marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV — formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Illinois — quickly found himself at the center of a political firestorm due to his previously expressed views.

The Historic Election and Its Immediate Aftermath

On May 8, 2025, cardinals gathered in Vatican City and elected Cardinal Prevost as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. As he stepped onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and took the name Leo XIV, he became the first American to ascend to the papacy — a milestone greeted with celebration by some and suspicion by others.

The reactions from U.S. political figures ranged from congratulatory to combative. President Donald Trump issued a statement highlighting the pride in having an American Pope, while Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized the spiritual significance of the moment and wished him success in leading the Church.

Former President Joe Biden, himself a devout Catholic, offered a formal and respectful note of congratulations, posting, “Habemus papam – May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.”

Yet not everyone viewed the election through a purely religious lens. Conservative commentator Laura Loomer issued a blistering critique, characterizing the new pope as a political enemy of Trump and the MAGA movement. “He is anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis,” she wrote, suggesting that his papacy would continue what she viewed as a leftward drift in Vatican politics.

Digital Footprints and Political Flashpoints

Loomer and other critics pointed to past tweets and online posts as evidence of Pope Leo XIV’s political leanings. A 2015 tweet resurfaced in which he shared a Washington Post article criticizing Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. While the tweet included no additional commentary, the article’s inclusion on his feed signaled agreement with its arguments.

Other posts were more direct. In 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, the future pope called on the Church to actively condemn racism and pursue justice. “Thank you! We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice,” he wrote, amplifying the message of religious leaders speaking out at the time.

In 2017, he shared a message in support of DACA recipients, writing, “I stand with the #Dreamers and all people who are working toward an immigration system that is fair, just, and moral.” He also reposted appeals directed at then-President Trump, urging him to read and take seriously Laudato Si’, the Church’s encyclical on climate change.

The American Lens on a Global Role

While the pope’s political record has stirred debate in the U.S., it’s important to remember that the Vatican is a global institution. Nonetheless, his past commentary — particularly about immigration, race, and environmental responsibility — has had clear intersections with American political battles.

In a particularly pointed 2025 post, Pope Leo XIV (then still Cardinal Prevost) challenged an argument made by J.D. Vance in which Vance implied prioritizing national loyalty over global compassion. By sharing and endorsing articles that rejected this approach, the future pope positioned himself as a vocal advocate for the Gospel's universal call to love, regardless of borders.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, expressed ambivalence. In a video posted shortly after the election, he acknowledged that Pope Leo XIV had voted in Republican primaries and had led a pro-life student group — facts that might reassure conservatives. Yet Kirk quickly pivoted to concerns about the Pope’s “softness” on immigration and his past support for racial justice movements, including those sparked by the killing of George Floyd.

“There’s a lot yet to learn about this Pope,” Kirk said, questioning whether the timing of his election was coincidental or strategically aligned to counterbalance Trump-era nationalism.

A Broader Vision for the Papacy?

Pope Leo XIV’s past posts also suggest a papal vision deeply concerned with morality in public policy. One retweet criticized Trump’s family separation policy, declaring, “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages.”

In another, he highlighted the suffering caused by deportations, reposting a message that asked, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed?”

These digital breadcrumbs paint a portrait of a man who sees Christian teachings as inseparable from social responsibility. His online engagement reveals a future pope who was not afraid to speak out when he saw injustice — even when doing so clashed with the views of prominent political leaders.

Looking Ahead: Unity or Division?

The election of an American pope is a monumental development in the Church’s 2,000-year history. Yet the very factors that make it historic — his nationality, his political past, his outspoken moral advocacy — also make it contentious.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his tenure, the Catholic Church will be watching closely to see how his values, once shared digitally, now translate into action on the world stage. Will he bring healing and unity to a divided Church and world? Or will his past statements continue to fuel political tensions, especially in the United States?

Regardless of how one interprets his past posts, one thing is clear: Pope Leo XIV’s papacy will not be politically neutral. He enters the Vatican not as a blank slate, but as a moral voice already tested in the public square — and now amplified to a global audience.