Maga criticises the primary American pope as not 'America First'

[ad_1] Nomia Iqbal & Mike Wendling BBC Information

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ffe8/live/bde65280-2d05-11f0-b63e-e910111aa2b5.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters Steve Bannon in the midst of a speech in front of a large illuminated screen, waving his arms" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Reuters Former White Home official Steve Bannon predicted friction between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump

Catholicism has hardly ever been extra distinguished in US politics because the Trump administration brazenly embraces advisers and officers who proudly say religion has formed their politics.

However any jubilation on the American Make America Nice Once more proper concerning the new Pope this week rapidly dissipated as key voices from Donald Trump's Maga motion got here to a disenchanted conclusion: the primary American Pope doesn't seem like "America first".

Little is understood concerning the political leanings of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago.

He has voiced issues for the poor and immigrants, chosen a reputation which will reference extra liberal church management, and he seems to have each supported the liberal-leaning Pope Francis and criticised the US president's insurance policies on social media.

However the president to date has stated solely that Leo's election was a "nice honour" for the US. Nonetheless, a few of Trump's most distinguished supporters had been fast to assault Pope Leo, lambasting him as a doable problem to Trump and on the notion that he'll comply with Pope Francis in areas like immigration.

"I imply it is sort of jaw-dropping," Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon informed the BBC on Friday, talking of Leo's election.

"It's surprising to me {that a} man might be chosen to be the Pope that had had the Twitter feed and the statements he is had towards American senior politicians," stated Bannon, a hard-right Trump loyalist, practising Catholic and former altar boy.

And he predicted that there is "positively going to be friction" between Leo and Trump.

Watch: 'Thrilling day to be a Chicago Catholic' - Chicagoans react to Pope Leo XIV

The Pope's brother, John Prevost, informed The New York Occasions that he thinks his brother would voice his disagreements with the president.

"I do know he isn't pleased with what is going on on with immigration," he stated. "I do know that for a reality. How far he'll go together with it is just one's guess, however he will not simply sit again. I do not suppose he'll be the silent one."

Latest survey information reveals that about 20% of Individuals determine as Catholic, in response to the non-partisan Pew Analysis Middle.

About 53% determine with or lean in the direction of the Republican Get together, although there's loads of nuance, too: America's two Catholic presidents, John F Kennedy and Joe Biden, had been each Democrats. And practically two-thirds of US Catholics imagine abortion must be authorized in all or most circumstances - a departure from the Church's present stance.

US Catholics additionally broadly supported Pope Francis: 78% of these surveyed in February seen him favorably, together with a majority of Catholic Republicans.

Numerous Catholics within the new Pope's residence metropolis of Chicago on Thursday aired disappointment with President Trump and stated they hoped Pope Leo XIV would comply with the trail of his predecessor.

"We hope he'll proceed with Francis's agenda going ahead," stated Rick Stevens, a Catholic deacon from New Jersey who occurred to be visiting Chicago when he heard the information.

The US Convention of Catholic Bishops, which leads and coordinates US Catholic actions, celebrated Pope Leo's election and the message it sends.

"Definitely, we rejoice {that a} son of this nation has been chosen by the cardinals, however we recognise that he now belongs to all Catholics and to all individuals of excellent will," the convention stated in an announcement. "His phrases advocating peace, unity, and missionary exercise already point out a path ahead."

Although Maga supporters signify a small subset of US Catholics, it is one with outsized entry to conservative media and Trump's ear.

On Bannon's Conflict Room podcast - recognized for its hard-right, pro-Trump bent - one visitor after one other heaped criticism on the brand new Pope.

"This man has been massively embraced by the liberals and the progressives," stated Ben Harnwell, a journalist who led Bannon's efforts to determine what he calls a "gladiator faculty" for the "Judeo-Christian West" exterior of Rome.

"He's certainly one of their very own… he has [Pope] Francis's DNA in him," Harnwell stated.

The brand new Pope's brother, Louis Prevost, says his sibling was all the time devoted to the church

Jack Posobiec, one other Maga commentator dialing in from Rome, was blunt: "This selection of the American cardinal was executed as a response, as a message to President Trump."

The total image of what led to Pope Leo's choice on Thursday continues to be rising and church choices do not map neatly onto US politics. Nonetheless, watchers all over the world have pored over Pope Leo's social media profiles in quest of clues about his leanings and beliefs.

An X account below his title, with tweets going way back to 2015, shares hyperlinks to criticism of Trump's strategy to immigration and hints at different political beliefs, reminiscent of stricter gun management.

In February, the account sharply rebuked the US vice-president by posting a hyperlink to an opinion piece titled "JD Vance is fallacious: Jesus would not ask us to rank our love for others".

The account additionally posted a hyperlink to a letter from Pope Francis after he clashed with Vance over church doctrine and immigration. Vance – a Catholic convert – had given an interview in defence of the Trump administration's immigration insurance policies.

Vance has routinely invoked his religion in protection of the administration, significantly immigration insurance policies, which the White Home has stated put "America first".

"There's a Christian idea that you simply love your loved ones and then you definately love your neighbour, and then you definately love your group, and then you definately love your fellow residents, after which after that, prioritise the remainder of the world. Plenty of the far left has utterly inverted that," Vance informed Fox Information.

However US Democrats weren't spared both on the account, which has greater than a decade of posts. They seem to assist Catholic employers who refuse to pay for contraceptives by way of worker well being plans, and following the 2016 US presidential election, one put up hyperlinks to an article accusing Democrat Hillary Clinton of ignoring pro-life Catholic voters.

The BBC requested the Vatican to verify the account was Leo's, however didn't obtain a response.

Vice-President Vance informed conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitt on Friday: "I attempt to not play the politicisation of the Pope sport.

"I am positive he will say loads of issues that I like. I am positive he'll say some issues that I disagree with, however I will proceed to wish for him and the Church regardless of all of it and thru all of it, and that'll be the way in which that I deal with it."

The brand new Pope's LGBTQ views are additionally unclear, however some teams, together with the conservative School of Cardinals, imagine he could also be much less supportive than Pope Francis.

Matt Walsh, a commentator with the conservative Each day Wire, wrote: "There are some good indicators and dangerous indicators with this new Pope. I wish to see what he truly does together with his papacy earlier than I cross any sort of judgment."

However a number of the most devoted Maga supporters have already got made up their minds.

Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer who has Trump's ear, swaying the president on prime personnel choices, known as the brand new Pope "anti-Trump, anti-Maga, pro-open Borders, and a complete Marxist like Pope Francis".

Bannon, who had recommended Leo as a darkish horse for the papacy, predicted tensions between the White Home and Vatican - and stated they may even tear aside American Catholics.

"Bear in mind, President Trump was not shy about taking a shot at Pope Francis," he stated.

"So if this Pope - which he'll do - tries to return between President Trump and his implementation of the mass deportation programme, I might stand by."