Pope-litics: the American Impact and its Global Implications

With his first address, last Sunday, the new Pope - Leo XIV - has officially announced the direction of his papacy. These intentions set the tone for the Church’s newest epoch, but not only. They have tangible impacts for nations, notably in the U.S., where Prevost’s appointment signals potential alignment - or friction - with domestic priorities. 

The Vatican’s reach transcends Christianity, wielding an unmatched level of moral authority in global diplomacy. As a nation of which the Pope is the official head of state, the Vatican has real political power in the form of foreign policy. With 184 full diplomatic relations with countries, the Holy See’s scope is comparable to that of major powers, with only a few less than the United States with its 189 official diplomatic relations for example.  

Beyond its position as a state, the Vatican has largely been viewed as a post lamp for morality; Roman pontiffs have historically been involved in global affairs, often called upon as mediators, peace campaigners and moral opinion leaders. For example, historians consider John Paul II to have been one of the three crucial actors (along with Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev) who precipitated the fall of the Iron Curtain. The Vatican’s great power does not lie in its physicality - military, territory or population - as for many influential countries. Its true strength is in blending its spiritual mission with the political realities of each epoch, and thus employing its soft power to influence major institutions behind the scenes. 

Now, in a historic first, that influence takes on a new dimension, with an American at the helm. Though some may think that the appointment of an American as Pope is perfect for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign, the administration shouldn’t celebrate too soon. Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo XIV also holds Peruvian nationality as he spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and as a teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in north-western Peru. Following his appointment, an X account linked to Robert Francis Prevost emerged, which could shed light on his political stance. On this account, he shared links which criticized Trump's approach to immigration and guns, such as one titled "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others". Considering the Pope’s background, it is not surprising he disagrees with J.D. Vance. As a born-again Christian, the vice-president  uses the Bible to promote a heterodox theory - ordo amoris - to justify his anti-immigration policies. He does this through the claim that charity must begin with those closest to us, and only later extend, in concentric circles, to strangers. Although the Vatican has yet to confirm that the account is Leo’s, these statements would seem to align with what his loved ones have said. 

Another way the Pope has marked his position against Trump is in his first formal address to Roman Catholic cardinals where he focused on the dangers of AI. Which, he said, would “pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.” This speech confirmed the suspicions that Pope Leo XIV would, as Pope Francis, emphasize communities largely overlooked, like the working class whose livelihoods are most threatened by automation. By framing AI as a key ethical battleground, the Pope implicitly counters Trump’s version of capitalism - unrestrained, prioritizing profits over people and ignoring the potential negative impacts of technology. His message could not have been clearer: the Church stands with the vulnerable and against the elites who implement technology without considering all the ethical dimensions involved. In doing so, Pope Leo not only aligned himself with the legacy of Catholic social teaching but also positioned the Vatican as a ‘moral babysitter’ for the world’s leaders, both political and technological. 

This new Pope’s election comes at a key time in the USA, with christian nationalism on the rise. Many Americans favoured Cardinal Raymond Burke, an arch-traditionalist who has endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump. With fifty-six percent of Catholics having voted for Trump, the intertwining of the Christianity and government in the US has rarely been so clear. It can be seen in the infiltration of christian nationalism in key sectors through Trump’s Project 25, such as politics and education. Another - less known yet crucial branch - is the military, where most chaplains are from southern baptist backgrounds and want to convert American soldiers into southern baptists. The election of a second socially progressive pope marks the Vatican's intention for the future of the Church, one that seems opposite to the American’s vision of it. On top of that, Pope Leo’s background - rooted in cross-border pastoral work and a rejection of exclusionary politics - positions him as a counterforce to the rise of Christian nationalism. 

Though this may seem like a distant American issue, the domestic perception of the U.S. as "God’s chosen country," tasked with reshaping the world into a theocratic state, has very real implications for us in Europe and beyond. A radicalized America, driven by Christian nationalist fervor, could embolden far-right movements globally, undermine international cooperation, and export its ideological wars to allies. The Pope's leadership, therefore, is not just a theological shift but a geopolitical necessity.

In this increasingly polarized and right-wing climate, it is crucial for Pope Leo XIV to use the Vatican’s diplomatic relations and moral high ground to counteract the dual threat of unchecked corporal power and christian nationalism.