Inclusive Tone Of New Pope Isn't Sitting Well With Some In The 'america First' Movement

The greeting aft his election, Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV and nan first American pontiff successful nan Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history — presided complete his first Mass.

In a motion to his predecessor, nan precocious Pope Francis, Leo pledged to align himself pinch "ordinary people" and pointed to a nonaccomplishment of belief religion for contributing to "appalling violations of quality dignity."

"A deficiency of religion is often tragically accompanied by nan nonaccomplishment of meaning successful life, nan neglect of mercy, appalling violations of quality dignity, nan situation of nan family and truthful galore different wounds that afflict our society," nan caller pope said successful his homily delivered astatine nan Vatican's Sistine Chapel connected Thursday. 

However, nan connection from nan pope – who, for illustration his predecessor, appears to hail from nan much inclusive and progressive helping of nan Catholic Church – does not look to beryllium receptive to immoderate successful nan "America First" movement.

FIRST AMERICAN-BORN POPE INSPIRES FAITH LEADERS ACROSS THE NATION

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of nan United States, appears connected nan pavilion of St. Peter's Basilica astatine nan Vatican connected May 8, 2025. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

The laminitis and leader of nan movement, President Donald Trump, connected Thursday quickly praised nan action of Leo, who was Chicago-born but has lived overmuch of his big life successful Peru.

"It is specified an grant to recognize that he is nan first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look guardant to gathering Pope Leo XIV. It will beryllium a very meaningful moment!" Trump wrote successful a societal media post.

Additionally, Vice President JD Vance, only nan 2nd Catholic vice president successful U.S. history, congratulated nan caller pope, adding, "I’m judge millions of American Catholics and different Christians will believe for his successful activity starring nan Church. May God bless him!"

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS FIRST AMERICAN POPE LEO XIV AN ‘HONOR’ FOR US, ‘VERY HAPPY’

However, acknowledgment to a insubstantial way of weighing successful connected awesome American lighting rod issues specified arsenic forbidden immigration, weapon control, and moreover nan 2020 decease of George Floyd – which sparked nationwide protests targeting constabulary brutality towards minorities – nan caller pope was bound to beryllium arguable among immoderate of Trump's millions of MAGA supporters.

Steve Bannon, nan erstwhile White House main strategist successful Trump's first management and a blimpish Catholic, wrote, "Worst prime ever," successful responding connected societal media to nan caller pope's election.

That sentiment from Bannon, and overmuch harsher words from immoderate far-right podcasters and societal media influencers, was apt fueled successful portion by evident past posts from nan caller pope – which could not beryllium independently verified by Fox News – that were captious of nan Trump administration's sweeping and arguable migration policies.

Pope Francis, days earlier his death, meets pinch Vice President JD Vance, left, and his delegation during an assemblage astatine Casa Santa Marta connected April 20, 2025 successful Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Pro-Trump blimpish commentator Joey Mannarino took to X to complaint that "the caller Pope has precocious attacked JD Vance, shown solidarity pinch Kilmar Abrego-Garcia and begged Trump to unfastened nan borders for illustration Biden had them. This feline is worse than Francis."

LIVE UPDATES: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

However, influential blimpish activistic and commentator Charlie Kirk, a MAGA world stone prima and Trump state who leads nan powerful Turning Point USA younker organization, was much measured.

"Let’s conscionable say, not truthful awesome tweets astir having immoderate willingness for unfastened borders. We’ll spot benignant of really he is connected that. Also immoderate George Floyd worldly that I’m not excessively crazy about," Kirk said successful a video posted connected X.

Kirk added that "overall, it seems for illustration he’s a pro-life warrior. There’s a batch yet to study astir this pope, but I dream that he will beryllium a beardown advocator for beardown borders. And for sovereignty."

Popular blimpish commentator and power big Hugh Hewitt seemed receptive to nan caller pope.

Trump has warmly embraced American Catholics successful caller years and captured astir 60% of nan Catholic ballot successful past year's statesmanlike election, according to a Fox News elector analysis. Four years earlier, erstwhile President Joe Biden, nan nation's 2nd Catholic president, narrowly captured nan Catholic vote.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump be Pope Francis' ceremonial connected April 28, 2025 astatine nan Vatican. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Among those Catholics who supported Trump is erstwhile New Hampshire authorities House Speaker Bill O'Brien, who is 1 of nan state's 2 members connected nan Republican National Committee.

O'Brien told Fox News that he's "very respectful of nan votes of nan conclave, and I'm besides proud that we do person a pope from America."

"I surely would person liked to person seen personification much successful nan contented of Pope Benedict, who held much intimately to nan accepted doctrines of nan church," O'Brien said. "But I'm not judge that Pope Leo is really established now successful position of wherever he will be. And nan truth that he criticized Trump, I suppose that astir apt shows a little than developed governmental consciousness than it does a doctoral sense, which is much important."

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE FOX NEWS APP

O'Brien noted that "any pope, immoderate belief fig for that matter, is going to beryllium concerned astir those who are powerless successful our society, and rightfully so, but that doesn't mean he's fixed aggravated thought to nan value of nationalist borders."

He additionally emphasized that "I'm thrilled astir wherever he comes from, and I'm hopeful astir wherever he's going."