Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, has found himself at odds with conservative Catholics only months after his election, following pointed remarks against U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Initially celebrated by traditionalists for embracing papal customs shunned by his predecessor, Pope Francis, and for avoiding divisive social debates, Leo appeared to win over critics of the late pope.
But that goodwill faltered after the new pontiff questioned whether Trump’s hard-line stance on immigration aligned with the Church’s pro-life teachings.
“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” Leo told reporters on Tuesday.
The comments stunned many conservatives who had welcomed Leo’s early gestures, such as wearing a traditional red mozzetta and allowing the Latin Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, practices Francis had restricted.
Former Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland, once a sharp critic of Francis but an early supporter of Leo, accused the pope of sowing “confusion … regarding the sanctity of human life.”
The traditionalist Catholic blog Rorate Caeli, which had praised Leo in contrast to Francis, lamented: “So tired of papal interviews. He should return to his previous silence.”
The Trump administration, which often clashed with Francis, also pushed back. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected Leo’s characterization of “inhumane treatment” of migrants.
Despite the backlash, Vatican officials signaled that Leo remains deeply committed to defending immigrant rights. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close adviser, said the pope was simply living out St. Paul’s exhortation to preach “in season and out of season.”
Elise Allen, a papal biographer, noted that Leo’s decades as a missionary in Peru shaped his passion for social justice. “He understands the priority of the abortion issue, but he’s not going to be somebody that says that’s far more important than immigration,” she said.
David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, added that conservatives may have misread Leo’s intentions. “They grasped at his gestures as if he were endorsing their entire agenda. Leo was never going to do that.”
While Pope Francis angered conservatives by restricting the Latin Mass and allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, Leo initially signaled a more traditional style.
He met with U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke and Cardinal Robert Sarah, both sidelined under Francis, and even allowed Burke to celebrate a Latin Mass this month.
But Leo has also shown openness to groups Francis sought to include, holding a private audience with a U.S. priest ministering to LGBT Catholics.
Analysts say this balancing act reflects Leo’s cautious but firm approach: aiming for unity within a polarized global Church, while refusing to compromise on his values.
“Is he going to ruffle the feathers of American conservatives at some points? Yes,” Allen said. “But they shouldn’t be surprised.”
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
