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Pope Leo XIV has plenty to say about his home country.
The first-ever American pope was elected to lead the Catholic church on May 8. On Monday, May 12, the Chicago-born pontiff — previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost — made an appearance at the Vatican where he offered a cryptic answer to one reporter’s question.
NewsNation’s Robert Sherman was one of many reporters voicing questions for the new pope, and in a now-viral exchange, asked if Leo had “any message for the United States?”
“Many,” the pope replied, before simply adding, “God Bless you all.”
Some online wondered if, perhaps, the pope had misheard Sherman as asking for “blessings” rather than “messages,” however, others interpreted the answer as more pointed.
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Regardless of his intent, the pope’s previous social media activity has indicated some discrepancies between his beliefs and the actions of the U.S. government.
In February, Prevost shared two news articles to his X profile. One, titled, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” refuted Vance’s proclamation about Christian priorities in a Fox News interview. The other delved deeper into the late Pope Francis’ criticism of Vance using the Catholic concept of “ordo amoris” to justify the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Despite past critical posts about the Trump administration, however, both the president and vice president were quick to offer their congratulations to the religious leader upon his election as Pope Francis’ successor.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, added, “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
