Pope Leo takes over the Catholic Church in the large inaugural fair

JD Vance takes part in the Pope's first trade fair. The journey could indicate the tone for the relationship of the Trump government to the new Pope.

Pope Leo XIV prepared to take on his role as the first American leader of the Global Catholic Church with a mass at the St. Peter's Square in Rome, including dozens of world leaders and European kings.

The new Pontiff rode for the first time before his investment on the pitch on a popemobile.

Vice President JD Vance experienced the end of a papacy when he visited Pope Francis on Easter Sunday shortly before the death of Pope. Now, less than a month later, Vance was present for the beginning of another.

It is a moment to celebrate the new guide of 1.4 billion Catholics. The solemn liturgy in St. Peter Basilica and Square marked the official start of Pope Leo XIV. Vance's pontificate observed with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.

Both the second Lady Usha Vance and Jeanette Rubio, the wife of the Foreign Minister, entered the St. Peter's Square with top black veils.

For Trump and his team, the journey was also able to indicate the tone for the relationship between the administration to the Vatican, which was tense under Francis.

“It was a difference in the principles,” said Peter Casarella, Professor of Herzog Theology.

Trump and Francis repeatedly collapsed through immigration. Francis became a Pope in 2013 and spoke out when Trump ran for the President for the first time in 2016 and promised to build a wall on the southern border.

“A person who only thinks of building walls wherever they may be and not about building bridges is not a Christian,” said Francis at the time.

This year Francis said about Trump's mass deportation plan on the eve of his inauguration: “If it is true, it will be a shame.” Francis was also a strong advocate of combating climate change, which Trump called “joke”.

Trump shot back in Francis in 2016 and said: “So that a religious leader questions a person's faith.” It remains to be seen whether his relationship with Leo will be different, but the new Pope seems to share the views of Francis.

Pope Leo's impact on American politics

Before his first American Pope, Leo XIV was not shy to criticize some of the Trump government's politics.

One day before Leo's first fair, Vance published photos of himself and prayed a Francis grave. “He was loved by many Catholics around the world, and I hope they will pray with me with me for the peace of his soul,” wrote Vance.

According to Leo, the dignity of migrants should be respected in his first speech to the world diplomats on May 16.

Those who know the new Pope say that he campaigns for social justice and helps migrants. Casarella said when it comes to the position of the church among migrants: “The lines are pulled, they cannot change.” This could mean more friction with the Trump administration under Leo.

Leo criticized Vance and Trump on social media before becoming a Pope.

On April 14th, Leo returned the criticism of Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukelele's reaction to the Tonroversial deportation of the El Salvadoran National Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland. A decade before, Leo divided a column on X from 2015, then Twitter, written by a colleague with the heading “Why Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic”.

Leo also announced opinion articles that were critical of the interpretation of writing and immigration through Vances. “JD vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to evaluate our love for others,” says a headline on February 3.

“No longer war,” says Pope Leo XIV in the first Sunday message

Pope Leo XIV turned to a full St. Peter's Square and repeated an urgent plea for peace that was a recurring topic of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

“There is a long -term disagreement between Vice President Vance and the papacy about how Catholic teaching can be interpreted,” said Casarella.

When asked about the dynamics between Vance and the new Pope, the Vice President's office referred to a social media post, which he triggered on May 8th.

“I am sure that millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work that leads the church. May God bless him!” Vance wrote.

Trump also expressed warm wishes for Leo. His administration wiped the Pope's former social media activities.

“I think it was a surprise for everyone,” said the press spokesman for the White House, Karoline Leavitt, about Leo's social media post. “But it is a great thing for the United States of America and for the world,” she said about the first Pope, “and we pray for him.”

Whether Leo continues to reject American politics is closely observed. He comes from Chicago, he is the first US pope and in his appointment it has a strong interest in America. In the first years of his papacy, he will probably visit the United States, said Casarella and could make many trips into the country.

Trump's top Catholics

Vance and Rubio are the two most famous Catholics in Trump's administration and his leading replacement for foreign matters. They are logical decisions to represent Trump at the measure, said Joel Goldstein, a professor of St. Louis University who studies the Vice Presidency.

Since both men are regarded as leading competitors for the NOD of the GOP presidents in 2028, the trip also has “possible political response,” added Goldstein.

Nevertheless, everyone has made their Catholic faith to a large extent of their political identity, and that would probably go on if they run for the president to go on their first trip to see the new Pope in every future campaign to see a potential touchstone.

“This is an old story about politicians who are Catholic who use their faith or express their beliefs,” said Casarella and added: “This could be a prelude to something that appears later.”

Contribution: Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers, Reuters

JD Vance takes part in the Pope's first trade fair. The journey could indicate the tone for the relationship of the Trump government to the new Pope.

Trump's top Catholics

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