American Pope Shuns U.S. Go to in New Slap at Trump

[ad_1] The primary American Pontiff is skipping a go to to his house nation within the first yr of his papacy.

The Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV has not visited the USA since assuming the papacy final yr, and it seems that American Catholics should wait a little bit longer. The Holy See Press Workplace confirmed on Sunday {that a} U.S. journey just isn't on the agenda for 2026.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Pope Leo" class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/YUM3SY7BLVHWVHJ4YIXPNY66TI.jpg?auth=1c053ea01387c34ae68245681f7a21044384c2b7c8189fe9c49fa9eca7998a1c&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/YUM3SY7BLVHWVHJ4YIXPNY66TI.jpg?auth=1c053ea01387c34ae68245681f7a21044384c2b7c8189fe9c49fa9eca7998a1c&width=800&height=533 800w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/YUM3SY7BLVHWVHJ4YIXPNY66TI.jpg?auth=1c053ea01387c34ae68245681f7a21044384c2b7c8189fe9c49fa9eca7998a1c&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/YUM3SY7BLVHWVHJ4YIXPNY66TI.jpg?auth=1c053ea01387c34ae68245681f7a21044384c2b7c8189fe9c49fa9eca7998a1c&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost addresses the gang from the principle central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the primary time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, within the Vatican, on Might 8, 2025. TIZIANA FABI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures The Nationwide Catholic Reporter detailed that, earlier than the Vatican confirmed Pope Leo would skip the U.S., there was hypothesis he would go to someday across the United Nations Normal Meeting in September.

A pope visiting his house nation within the first yr just isn't extraordinary; Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI each made journeys of their first 12 months, although Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, by no means visited Argentina.

Pope Leo is anticipated to go to nations in Latin America, Africa, and different nations in Europe earlier than the yr’s finish.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/ZW36EDCWCJF3LIK3NMTYZXFJKM.jpg?auth=46f8c14053417cd73a059da311fff6e917ae9f994bc9cc2b1ad02357685e5c85&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/ZW36EDCWCJF3LIK3NMTYZXFJKM.jpg?auth=46f8c14053417cd73a059da311fff6e917ae9f994bc9cc2b1ad02357685e5c85&width=800&height=533 800w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/ZW36EDCWCJF3LIK3NMTYZXFJKM.jpg?auth=46f8c14053417cd73a059da311fff6e917ae9f994bc9cc2b1ad02357685e5c85&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/ZW36EDCWCJF3LIK3NMTYZXFJKM.jpg?auth=46f8c14053417cd73a059da311fff6e917ae9f994bc9cc2b1ad02357685e5c85&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> Pope Leo XIV has criticized the Trump administration on a number of events. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/Alberto Pizzoli/AFP by way of Getty Pictures The announcement follows Pope Leo’s vocal criticisms of the Trump Administration’s insurance policies. Final November, he referred to as the president’s remedy of immigrants “ extremely disrespectful .” Following Donald Trump’s assault on Venezuela in January, the pope condemned “diplomacy primarily based on pressure” and a renewed “zeal for struggle.”

The White Home didn't instantly reply to the Each day Beast’s request for remark.

Vice President JD Vance, who transformed to Catholicism in 2019 and wrote that his conversion “demanded that I let go of grudges, and forgive even those that wronged me,” has been caught between his religion and his political agenda since assuming workplace.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Pope Leo XIV meets with US Vice President JD Vance, on May 19, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/VY33SU4SQ5GR3DTJTV6YFHYPEM.jpg?auth=b005c8248fdec91283b131ee7cc7994763092b149eb29241c737649212a76060&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/VY33SU4SQ5GR3DTJTV6YFHYPEM.jpg?auth=b005c8248fdec91283b131ee7cc7994763092b149eb29241c737649212a76060&width=800&height=533 800w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/VY33SU4SQ5GR3DTJTV6YFHYPEM.jpg?auth=b005c8248fdec91283b131ee7cc7994763092b149eb29241c737649212a76060&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/VY33SU4SQ5GR3DTJTV6YFHYPEM.jpg?auth=b005c8248fdec91283b131ee7cc7994763092b149eb29241c737649212a76060&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> Pope Leo XIV meets with US Vice President JD Vance, on Might 19, 2025 in Vatican Metropolis, Vatican. Vatican Pool - Corbis/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures Pope Leo gave Vance an icy reception when the vp attended his inaugural mass final Might.

The VP was caught in the middle after Pope Leo condemned the Division of Homeland Safety’s harsh immigration raids in November.

Assistant Homeland Safety Secretary Tricia McLaughlin implied the pontiff was a liar in a post on X, and a White Home spokesperson stated the pope “doesn’t know what he’s speaking about,” leading to Vance demanding who made the assertion.

Whereas Vance has stayed loyal to his commander-in-chief amid rising backlash towards his insurance policies, the Catholic neighborhood has been vital of his dedication to the church.

Following the killings of Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal brokers, the National Catholic Reporter revealed two op-eds excoriating the VP’s defense of ICE and Border Patrol.

“As a Catholic, Vance might have chosen to share the Gospel message of therapeutic and human dignity. As a substitute, he selected to supply the MAGA message of division and blame,” wrote journalist John Grosso within the aftermath of Pretti’s demise.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="jd pray" class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/JU2PMK5KINCFBDRYDA25IM3XIU.jpg?auth=8ec67b1fc06e9d866da1001399120df1bdd984d239eee5e24658124e5dbc0b32&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/JU2PMK5KINCFBDRYDA25IM3XIU.jpg?auth=8ec67b1fc06e9d866da1001399120df1bdd984d239eee5e24658124e5dbc0b32&width=800&height=533 800w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/JU2PMK5KINCFBDRYDA25IM3XIU.jpg?auth=8ec67b1fc06e9d866da1001399120df1bdd984d239eee5e24658124e5dbc0b32&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/JU2PMK5KINCFBDRYDA25IM3XIU.jpg?auth=8ec67b1fc06e9d866da1001399120df1bdd984d239eee5e24658124e5dbc0b32&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 18: United States Vice President JD Vance, President of Peru Dina Boluarte and First Girl of Italy, Laura Mattarella pray in the course of the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Sq. on Might 18, 2025 in Vatican Metropolis, Vatican. Pope Leo XIV (previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) presided over his inauguration mass in St Peter's Sq. after his election on Might eighth. (Picture by Antonio Masiello/Getty Pictures) Antonio Masiello/Getty Pictures Relating to Pope Leo’s upcoming journeys, the Catholic Reporter outlined that a number of elements possible contributed to the choice to skip the U.S. For one, it’s an election yr, which Nationwide Catholic Reporter Vatican Correspondent Justin McLellan stated the Vatican tries to keep away from when scheduling the pontiff’s journeys.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Iowa on Tuesday as he campaigns" class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/HCVJLTMRL5GTHLW5ZYWTV3Y2KY.jpg?auth=901a72864bc709e0a06cb59834592802de2d2833568475ac37a803e2bb661de8&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/HCVJLTMRL5GTHLW5ZYWTV3Y2KY.jpg?auth=901a72864bc709e0a06cb59834592802de2d2833568475ac37a803e2bb661de8&width=800&height=533 800w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/HCVJLTMRL5GTHLW5ZYWTV3Y2KY.jpg?auth=901a72864bc709e0a06cb59834592802de2d2833568475ac37a803e2bb661de8&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/HCVJLTMRL5GTHLW5ZYWTV3Y2KY.jpg?auth=901a72864bc709e0a06cb59834592802de2d2833568475ac37a803e2bb661de8&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> President Donald Trump spoke at an affordability rally in Iowa as a part of this yr's midterms preparations. Win McNamee/Getty Pictures The upcoming midterm elections are already rife with stress and controversy. Because the Trump Administration continues its unpopular insurance policies, Republicans are worried about losing the Home and the Senate.

“A yr in the past, I'd have advised you we had been nearly assured to win the Senate,” one GOP strategist advised Axios this week. “Immediately, I must inform you it’s far much less sure.”