The newly elected American pope, Robert Prevost, has sparked discussions regarding his past social media activity, particularly concerning his reposts that criticize Vice President JD Vance and the immigration policies of former President Donald Trump. These views seem to align with those of his predecessor and may create potential friction with the current administration. An account on X (formerly known as Twitter) linked to Prevost has not shown evidence of original critical posts but has instead shared articles and headlines from various sources.
CNN has made efforts to reach out to the Vatican, X, and Prevost’s associates to verify the authenticity of the account attributed to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. However, they have not yet been able to independently confirm this connection. On Thursday, Trump expressed his satisfaction regarding the election of the first American pope, raising questions about whether he was made aware of the account’s critical posts concerning his administration's policies.
Vice President Vance's office has referenced a previous statement where he extended his congratulations on X. The critical posts have focused on Vance's past remarks, where he accused the far left of prioritizing migrants over American citizens. One notable instance involved the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who was living in Maryland before being sent to a Salvadoran prison. This incident was highlighted in a recent repost from the account linked to Prevost.
On April 14, the account shared an article regarding Abrego Garcia and a piece by Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar of Washington, D.C. The bishop critiqued the federal government's aggressive immigration tactics, stating that they go beyond traditional enforcement strategies. A judge has since mandated the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., further adding to the immigration debate.
Earlier, on February 13, the account reposted a letter from former Pope Francis, in which he condemned the Trump administration's mass deportations. Francis expressed that deporting those fleeing poverty and persecution undermines their dignity, emphasizing that a true rule of law is reflected in the dignified treatment of all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable.
In a social media post dated February 3, the account also shared another article addressing Vance's claims made during a January Fox News interview. Vance suggested that the far left seems to prioritize the welfare of migrants over American citizens, stating, “There’s this old school – and I think it’s a very Christian concept – that you love your family and then you love your neighbor.” He criticized the far left for allegedly inverting this principle, claiming that they “seem to hate the citizens of their own country.”
The article that the account shared was written by Kat Armas for the National Catholic Reporter. It argued that Vance's statements echo a medieval concept known as ordo amoris or the order of charity, which mistakenly implies that some individuals warrant more care than others. The headline of this article read: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
It is worth noting that Prevost's social media activity has historical roots, as he previously reposted an opinion piece by Cardinal Timothy Dolan in 2015, criticizing Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. The account, which appears to have been created in 2011, contains a majority of reposts rather than original content. Although it initially had fewer than 800 followers, it rapidly gained traction, amassing over 232,000 followers by 5 p.m. on Thursday.
