When the Gospel Offends: MAGA’s Fury at Pope Leo XIV

Newly elected pope receives criticism from conservatives, much like his predecessor.

Today marked a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected as the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election marks the first time an American has ascended to the papacy, signaling a significant shift in the Church's global leadership.

While throngs of onlookers cheered in St. Peter’s Square and 1.4 million Roman Catholics around the world accepted a prayer of peace from the new Pontiff, the MAGA hate machine revved its engine and commenced its unified belching of criticism, attacks, and accusations of “wokeness” and “Marxism”.

One well-known Catholic MAGA voice, Jack Posobiec, stated that Christians are tired of “mamby-pamby, light, substance-less Christian faith”. MAGA wanted a conservative Pope to push back against what they describe as the “destruction of Western Civilization”. The conservative wing of the Church had been critical of Pope Francis’ stances on homosexuality and divorce.

The usual chorus of critics include Laura Loomer, who stated the new pope is “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis, and said it is “Gross” that he now leads the Church. This MAGA crash out is fueled in part by a comment made by Pope Leo XIV when he was still Cardinal Robert Prevost. Cardinal Prevost has shared or retweeted social media posts that were critical of Donald Trump and JD Vance.

One op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter that then Cardinal Prevost shared was titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to rank our love for others”. The op-ed was penned in response to comments made by Vance on Fox News in February 2025. Vance stated: “There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.” This comment by Vance is in keeping with MAGA’s nationalist and isolationist views that hold that we should prioritize ourselves, as Americans, over the rest of the world”

I have been Catholic all my life. Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, I am the proud graduate of the 158-year-old institution that is St. Mary’s Academy, which was started by an order of African American Nuns, the Sisters of the Holy Family and founded by the Venerable Henriette DeLille. I am also a graduate of the only historically Black Catholic University in the Western Hemisphere, Xavier University of Louisiana. As a practicing Catholic, educated in my faith by caring and learned practitioners, I vehemently disagree with Vance’s comments and applaud Pope Leo XIV for sharing the article.

Wealthy conservative Catholics also tried to influence the Cardinals’ choice during several events and private dinners with Cardinals accented by a promise of possible billions in donations to the Church “so long as we have the right pope.” One such wealthy conservative, Tim Busch of the Napa Institute, would like to see lay members lead the church’s evangelizing efforts. According to the book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church, a significant portion of the members of this California based group are affiliated with Opus Dei, a Catholic sect with deep ties to Project 2025. According to the author of the book, the Napa Institute and Opus Dei would like to see American law, politics, and culture adopt a deeply conservative version of Catholicism.

This deeply conservative version would no doubt be approving of the policies of the current administration and would be ok with say, putting kids in cages, or deporting American citizens, or any of the other extreme policies outlined in Project 2025.

Jesus would never condone putting children in cages and my faith teaches that the social positions of MAGA are wrong, on too many levels to go into here. Christianity calls for us to treat others as we would like to be treated, to “love our neighbor as ourselves”.

Who Is Pope Leo XIV?

Born in Chicago in 1955 to immigrant parents, Robert Prevost began his religious journey as an altar boy. He joined the Order of St. Augustine and served as a missionary in Peru, eventually becoming the bishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the head of the Vatican office for bishop nominations, and he was elevated to cardinal in January 2024. Known for his centrist views, Leo XIV has advocated for dialogue, inclusivity, and peace within the Church. He is fluent in six languages and holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru.

Robert Francis Prevost was raised in Chicago but has roots in New Orleans’ 7^th Ward, an enclave historically comprised of Creole people of color. I guess MAGA will totally freak out when they learn of this. In an interview today with CBS affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans, historian Jari Honora of the Historic New Orleans Collection stated that

the name “Prevost” made him think there may be French Canadian or Acadian (Cajun) ancestry in the new pope’s lineage but had “no clue it would be a very recent New Orleans connection”. “The Holy father’s ancestors are identified as either Black or Mulatto”, said Honara.

Rep. Troy Carter called the occasion of an American Pope with Creole ancestry a “testament to the enduring strength and global reach of New Orleans’ diverse faith community.

The Significance of the Name "Leo XIV"

Upon accepting the papacy, Prevost chose the name Leo XIV, a nod to previous popes named Leo, particularly Leo XIII, who was known for his advocacy of Catholic social doctrine. The selection of a papal name is a tradition that dates back to the sixth century and often reflects the new pope's vision for his tenure. By choosing "Leo," the new pope signals a commitment to social justice and continuity with his predecessors' reformist legacies.

A Historic First for America

Pope Leo XIV's election is groundbreaking, as he becomes the first American-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church. His ascent reflects the Church's growing recognition of its global congregation, particularly in the Americas. Many American Catholics have expressed excitement and hope that his leadership will bring renewed energy and unity to the Church.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, this Catholic New Orleanian will watch with anticipation to see how his unique background and perspectives will shape the future of the Catholic Church.