https://www.salon.com/2025/10/12/pope-leo-takes-aim-at-magas-false-gospel/
[b]Pope Leo takes aim at MAGA’s false gospel]/b]
The American Pope is confirming MAGA's worst fears
By Sophia Tesfaye
Senior Writer
Published October 12, 2025 9:00AM (EDT)
Even though Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever U.S.-born pontiff, was labeled the “woke pope” soon after he was chosen in May by cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis, conservatives in the U.S. reportedly held out hope the new pope would abandon the progressivism of his outspoken predecessor. Now, five months into his tenure, the Chicago-born leader of the Catholic Church has angered MAGA-aligned conservatives on multiple fronts, including escalating his pointed criticisms of the Trump administration as it ramps up deportation operations.
“The fact that I am American means, among other things, people can’t say, like they did about Francis, ‘he doesn’t understand the United States, he just doesn’t see what’s going on,’” Leo said in a recent interview. Born Robert Francis Prevost on Chicago’s South Side, the pope reportedly voted in several Republican primaries. But an X account under his name, with tweets going as far back as 2015, previously shared links criticizing Trump’s approach to immigration and hinting at other political views, such as stricter gun control laws. “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed?” he apparently posted in 2024, criticizing Trump’s meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele about deportation collaboration. In recent weeks, Leo has started to aim his criticisms directly at Trump’s regime, like the more aggressive posture sought by Secretary Pete Hegseth. “This wording, like going from minister of defense to minister of war — let’s hope it’s just a figure of speech,” he recently said in Italian.
He named himself after Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, and was known as “The Pope of the Workers,” making it his mission to confront the ruthless laissez-faire economics of the era. During an interview with Crux, a Catholic news site, Leo XIV zeroed in on “some things going on in the (United) States that are of concern” in our current era, and suggested that “sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity and human support.”
He got more specific in his Oct. 5 homily during the Holy Mass for the Jubilee of the Missions and of Migrants. Leo told a crowd of more than 10,000 people gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica that “in the communities of ancient Christian tradition, such as those of the West, the presence of many brothers and sisters from the world’s South should be welcomed as an opportunity, through an exchange that renews the face of the Church and sustains a Christianity that is more open, more alive and more dynamic.” He followed the sermon with a post on X that same day: “No one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need! Human dignity must always come first!”
Before being named pope, Leo reposted an article headlined, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” In January, the vice president invoked St. Augustine to justify the Trump administration’s decision to cut international aid and impose a brutal immigration crackdown. A Catholic convert, Vance told Fox News that “there is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritise the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
“Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” the future Pope Leo said in response, calling the vice president “wrong.”
Needless to say, MAGA was already unhappy about the elevation of an American pope before he ever spoke out in an official capacity. Calling his selection “shocking,” former White House strategist Steve Bannon said Leo was the “worst pick for MAGA Catholics.” Right-wing agitator Laura Loomer immediately labeled Leo “Anti-Trump, anti-Maga, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis.” The late Charlie Kirk suggested Leo was an “open borders globalist installed to counter Trump.” The president, for his part, initially responded to the pope’s election with praise: “To have the pope from the United States of America, that’s a great honor.”
In an “Apostolic Exhortation” titled “Dilexi te” — which translates to “I have loved you” — the 40-page text, the pope said, was first started by Francis, but is ultimately his work. With its focus on what he labeled a “dictatorship” of wealth inequality, the document was seen by some on the right as confirmation of Leo’s condemnation of American conservatism.
“God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest,” Leo wrote. “Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people.”
As the Washington Post noted, “the document’s release follows the most vocal 10 days of Leo’s pontificate.” Carrying on the work of his predecessor, Leo began his swing when he spoke to 1,000 representatives at the tenth anniversary celebration of Pope Francis’s climate summit, Laudato Si. One week after Trump claimed that climate change was a “con job” during an address at the United Nations General Assembly, Leo said that he hoped the Vatican conference would get leaders to “listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.” Many in MAGA media mocked Leo for placing his hand on a large chunk of ice taken from a melting glacier in Greenland. Flanked by stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, the pope said, “We will raise hope by demanding that leaders act with courage, not delay.” He then asked: “Will you join with us?”
Rather than abandoning Francis’ environmental legacy, as conservatives in the U.S. would like, Leo is overseeing a Vatican plan to convert an agricultural field north of Rome into a vast solar farm, which is expected to make Vatican City the world’s first carbon-neutral state. American conservatives, on the other hand, are too beholden to a powerful oil industry to be concerned about climate change.
But what really infuriated conservatives was Leo’s response to a question about an award that Archbishop Blaise Cupich of Chicago planned to give to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate whip who is retiring at the end of his term, in recognition of his advocacy for immigrants. More than ten bishops from around the country, including from Durbin’s home parish, objected, citing his record championing reproductive rights.
“I think that it’s very important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, 40 years of service in the United States Senate,” the pope told reporters. “It’s important to look at many issues that are related to what is the teaching of the church. Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion’ but says ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life. Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in favor of the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States’—I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
That answer, as one senior Vatican official told the Post, shows that “the difference between Leo’s vision and Catholics of the right in the United States is clear.” Not long after Leo’s comments, Durbin announced that he had declined the award.
“Awful stuff from the Pope,” Daily Wire pundit Matt Walsh, wrote on social media. “Just total error,” wrote far-right influencer Jack Posobiec, who attended a White House roundtable with the president this week. Christian influencer Allie Beth Stuckey slammed the pope’s remarks as “awful, left-wing logic.”
The conservative uproar for Leo to stay in his religious lane is especially comical, considering that “catholic” means universal. There is nothing especially controversial about what he has said and done so far. The Vatican remains steadfast in its fundamental teachings, even as Leo brings an entirely new atmosphere to the church with events like the first hip-hop performance at the Vatican. The modern Catholic church has consistently held to a pro-life position that encompasses more than abortion, including opposition to the death penalty.
Leo’s last few weeks in the public eye has been perhaps more political than many people expected. It’s been a period when the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics spoke up against the “pandemic of arms” following another American school shooting, called out Elon Musk for extravagant income inequality and met privately with Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, a critic of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, and Reverend James Martin, a leading advocate for LGBTQ Catholics. While Leo recently said it is “highly unlikely, certainly in the near future, that the church’s doctrine in terms of what the church teaches about sexuality, what the Church teaches about marriage, [will change],” he indicated support for softening hearts. “We have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question,” he told Crux.
To MAGA’s dismay, now that Leo has begun expressing his views, there is little indication he plans to rein them in. The first American pope “was very clear that what is happening to migrants in the United States right now is an injustice,” Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Texas-based Hope Border Institute, who attended Leo’s meeting with Seitz, told the Post. “He said the church cannot remain silent.”
https://www.salon.com/2025/10/12/pope-leo-takes-aim-at-magas-false-gospel/
@Suzianne saidIn general, shouldn't you include some kind of "fair use" statement when you post copyrighted works in their entirety or nearly so, especially without commentary of your own?
https://www.salon.com/2025/10/12/pope-leo-takes-aim-at-magas-false-gospel/
[b]Pope Leo takes aim at MAGA’s false gospel]/b]
The American Pope is confirming MAGA's worst fears
By Sophia Tesfaye
Senior Writer
Published October 12, 2025 9:00AM (EDT)
Even though Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever U.S.-born pontiff, was labeled the “woke pope” soon after he was chose ...[text shortened]... cannot remain silent.”
https://www.salon.com/2025/10/12/pope-leo-takes-aim-at-magas-false-gospel/
Also, Fred Armisen has already commented on this kind of "you must read this!" behavior as "Nicholas Fehn" on SNL a dozen or so years ago.
Why do you copy and paste so often instead of speaking for yourself -- and when you do speak for yourself, why is it so often just some low-effort, sarcastic, insulting barb? Maybe that tendency should be your next target and enemy to defeat or at least subdue.
(Just wait till my eyebrows and beard turn white. You might not like the way I phrase my advice then. 😉 )
@Arkturos saidI really only have one thing to say about this:
In general, shouldn't you include some kind of "fair use" statement when you post copyrighted works in their entirety or nearly so, especially without commentary of your own?
Also, Fred Armisen has already commented on this kind of "you must read this!" behavior as "Nicholas Fehn" on SNL a dozen or so years ago.
Why do you copy and paste so often instead of speaking fo ...[text shortened]... wait till my eyebrows and beard turn white. You might not like the way I phrase my advice then. 😉 )
F off.
What I choose to re-post (and that IS what this is) IS me speaking for myself.
I ask again... How did you get to be such an ugly person?
Seriously, STOP your harassment train. It's endless. One might think you'd eventually run out of gas. I guess people who are this ugly inside never run out of gas. Go figure.
This is really a can of worms. I believe the catholic mark also sets it insofar as the church is synergistic with the anthropological understanding. So a person could have a middle ages or other versions that come authentic to them. Modern missions are important although when you hear people who've gone as missionaries they sometimes describe themselves being changed more than the mission community. 😵
@Suzianne saidre: "What I choose to re-post (and that IS what this is) IS me speaking for myself."
I really only have one thing to say about this:
F off.
What I choose to re-post (and that IS what this is) IS me speaking for myself.
I ask again... How did you get to be such an ugly person?
Seriously, STOP your harassment train. It's endless. One might think you'd eventually run out of gas. I guess people who are this ugly inside never run out of gas. Go figure.
As both a futurist and linguist, I do understand what could be described as the compaction of expression over time.
As for your personal comments attacking me, those seem like things that only a drunk person would post.
On my side, I'll admit that on many occasions I have posted things that I regretted or had second thoughts about, and then deleted the next morning -- or maybe even the night-of, before I went to bed.
But that you would write such a thing about me and let that ride . . .
@Suzianne saidI'll go farther. You don't know where I have been or what circumstances I have found myself in.
I really only have one thing to say about this:
F off.
What I choose to re-post (and that IS what this is) IS me speaking for myself.
I ask again... How did you get to be such an ugly person?
Seriously, STOP your harassment train. It's endless. One might think you'd eventually run out of gas. I guess people who are this ugly inside never run out of gas. Go figure.
Please lay out for all to see how you perceive me to be an "ugly person".
Just because I don't always agree with you about this or that?
Was that "just the alcohol talking"?
And if so, who is going to show up for your clients/patients when you go into practice as a counselor?
I'm not against you, and I don't want you to be completely like me (TBH, I'm still finding my way), but sometimes you come across as "adversary on automatic".
I won't ask you to thank me for that observation, but sometimes other people can see things we cannot see for ourselves.
Therefore, may I ask what you perceive to be my blind spots, and the ways in which I come across as an "ugly person" from your POV?
Could this be some kind of transference thing going on, where you are rebelling against me in lieu of someone else?
Is Ghost somehow involved in pairing the two of us up for some kind of mental-health improvement exercise of his own "superior" device, but without the consent of either of us?
Please explain.
Also: to you and everyone, my current block list is this: Ghost, Suzianne, Rookie -- so no whispering behind the scenes among the four of us is going on.
Let's have this discussion out in the open. If you have embarrassed yourself, then learn from that and try to do better.
One tries to be considerate and accommodating, but after a certain point the time comes when one is less willing to dance around someone else's eggshells.
However, without trying to be normative, I still wish you well in the ways that suit you best and that make your life easier during the remaining years of your current incarnation (even if and especially if it turns out to be the only one).
@Suzianne saidAll ^this^ idiocy aside,
All ^this^ idiocy aside, anyone care to talk about the OP?
He clearly likes you. 😉
anyone care to talk about the OP?
The Pope is 100% correct. MAGA Christianity is NOT Christianity at all; God's Holy Word "The Bible" tells us so. Jesus said: "You will know them by their fruits." They are liars just as Trump; period.
@KingDavid403 saidBut what kind of 'sea change' is it that the Pope himself speaks out against MAGA?
All ^this^ idiocy aside,
He clearly likes you. 😉
anyone care to talk about the OP?
The Pope is 100% correct. MAGA Christianity is NOT Christianity at all; God's Holy Word "The Bible" tells us so. Jesus said: "You will know them by their fruits." They are liars just as Trump; period.
Is it that this one is American and prior Popes didn't care much if America shot itself in the foot?
@Suzianne saidBut what kind of 'sea change' is it that the Pope himself speaks out against MAGA?
But what kind of 'sea change' is it that the Pope himself speaks out against MAGA?
Is it that this one is American and prior Popes didn't care much if America shot itself in the foot?
It looks like the Pope is generally going by the Teachings of Jesus; unlike many MAGA Christians. Many Catholics also voted for Trump; and many Cathloics to not go by the teachings of Christ. They follow their man-made ceremonial religion and think that attending mass (doing your time) is good enough; not so.
Is it that this one is American and prior Popes didn't care much if America shot itself in the foot?
I would think so; would you not? I think he cares more about the USA because of that. However, I really don't know for sure.
@KingDavid403 saidYes, it's heartening to see religious leaders with the courage to stand up to Trump.
But what kind of 'sea change' is it that the Pope himself speaks out against MAGA?
It looks like the Pope is generally going by the Teachings of Jesus; unlike many MAGA Christians. Many Catholics also voted for Trump; and many Cathloics to not go by the teachings of Christ. They follow their man-made ceremonial religion and think that attending mass (doing your ...[text shortened]... u not? I think he cares more about the USA because of that. However, I really don't know for sure.
Remember Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Church asking Trump for mercy for those who are legitimately scared of how his policies will affect them? Of course Trump and his toadies had to run her down for it, but it was a moment of clarity for the faithful, I think.
But yes, this is the bell I've been ringing since he took over America. MAGA "Christians" like Charlie Kirk are completely wrong in their worship of their Orange Jesus. I think we are starting to see a lessening of Catholic support of Trump. And a lot of Americans were thinking that previous Popes had no clue about America, but now that the Pope is American, they don't have that excuse anymore. "Oh, he's not a fan of Trump, maybe he knows something."
@Suzianne said"Oh, he's not a fan of Trump, maybe he knows something."
Yes, it's heartening to see religious leaders with the courage to stand up to Trump.
Remember Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Church asking Trump for mercy for those who are legitimately scared of how his policies will affect them? Of course Trump and his toadies had to run her down for it, but it was a moment of clarity for the faithful, I think.
But yes, this ...[text shortened]... ican, they don't have that excuse anymore. "Oh, he's not a fan of Trump, maybe he knows something."
Well he certainly does in my opinion; and clearly yours. 🙂
But yes, this is the bell I've been ringing since he took over America. MAGA "Christians" like Charlie Kirk are completely wrong in their worship of their Orange Jesus.
Yes I agree. I didn't know who Charlie Kirk was until God cut him down. Him Running around preaching hatred and lies to our youth in the name of Jesus; disgusting to say the least. "Sooner or later God is gonna cut you down" [Johnny Cash].
&list=RDeJlN9jdQFSc&start_radio=1 🙂
@KingDavid403 saidIt's more like I don't think Boozy Suzi the Finger-Bruiser is completely lost yet.
All ^this^ idiocy aside,
He clearly likes you. 😉
However, I am reminded that unrequested help often comes across as insulting, intrusive, and condescending to the chronically offended party.
And also, I do admire her faith: she falls and falls, but knows that she is always caught and held, no matter how badly she might behave (even if I don't like how badly she behaves).