{"id":442,"date":"2025-06-06T16:57:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=442"},"modified":"2025-06-06T16:57:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:57:55","slug":"woke-pope-leo-xiv-slammed-by-maga-supporters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=442","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWoke\u201d Pope Leo XIV slammed by MAGA supporters"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"May<\/div>\n
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Historic Papal Election: Pope Leo XIV Becomes First American Pontiff \u2014 and Sparks Controversy Among MAGA Supporters<\/h1>\n

On the evening of May 8, 2025, white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that the Catholic Church had chosen its new leader. Moments later, American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter\u2019s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV \u2014 the first pope to take the name \u201cLeo\u201d in more than a century, and the first American pope in history.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPeace be with you,\u201d Pope Leo began, addressing thousands in St. Peter\u2019s Square and millions more watching around the globe. \u201cThis is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming, humble, and persevering peace. It comes from God \u2014 who loves all of us, without limits or conditions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But while Catholics worldwide celebrated the historic moment, a wave of criticism erupted from some corners of the U.S. \u2014 particularly among supporters of former President Donald Trump, who wasted no time voicing their discontent.<\/p>\n

A Name With Meaning: Why \u2018Leo\u2019?<\/h2>\n

The name \u201cLeo\u201d carries deep historical significance in the Church. CBS papal analyst Candida Moss noted that the last Pope Leo \u2014 Leo XIII \u2014 reigned from 1878 to 1903. But even more significant is Pope Leo the Great, who famously met with Attila the Hun in the 5th century and persuaded him to spare Rome.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt might mean that he, too, is going to stand up to oppressive political forces in the world,\u201d Moss said. \u201cLeo is also remembered as a theological reformer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From Chicago to the Vatican: Who Is Pope Leo XIV?<\/h2>\n

Born in Chicago\u2019s Bronzeville neighborhood in 1955 and raised in the suburb of Dolton, Robert Prevost grew up in a devout Catholic family with immigrant roots \u2014 French and Spanish. According to his brother John, Pope Leo had an early sense of vocation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knew in first grade he was going to be a priest,\u201d John told NBC. \u201cHe went straight from high school seminary to Villanova and then to Peru. He always gave us advice, even as the youngest.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Leo\u2019s early priesthood led him to Peru, where he served for decades, eventually becoming bishop of Chiclayo. He holds dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship and was deeply influenced by local cultures.<\/p>\n

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Former colleagues remember him as humble, kind, and grounded. Rev. John Lyndon, who lived with him for ten years, recalled Leo\u2019s love for music, pizza-making, and parish life.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe had a good singing voice and a big heart. Every part of the parish wanted to celebrate his birthday. I\u2019m still absorbing the fact that he\u2019s Pope,\u201d Lyndon told the BBC.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pope Leo XIV\u2019s Vision: Progress Rooted in Tradition<\/h2>\n

While Leo XIV is considered moderate to progressive in tone, especially in line with Pope Francis, he maintains a conservative stance on doctrine. He supported Francis\u2019 inclusive tone toward LGBTQ+ Catholics and \u201cirregular\u201d couples, but emphasized interpretation based on local cultures.<\/p>\n

He has spoken out on climate change, advocated for renewable energy and electric vehicles, and expressed concern about global injustice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to move from words to action,\u201d Leo said last year. \u201cWe must build a relationship of reciprocity with creation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Trump Congratulates \u2014 But His Base Reacts<\/h2>\n

President Donald Trump issued a congratulatory message on Truth Social:<\/p>\n

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\u201cCongratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope. Such an honor for our country \u2014 the first American Pope! What excitement and what a great honor for our country.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yet, the praise from Trump didn\u2019t match the reaction from many of his most fervent followers.<\/p>\n

Some MAGA-aligned influencers and Trump loyalists lashed out at Pope Leo\u2019s past stances on immigration and racial justice, calling him \u201cwoke,\u201d \u201cMarxist,\u201d and even \u201cworse than Francis.\u201d<\/p>\n

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  • Right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich claimed the new Pope would \u201cpush for abortion\u201d and \u201copen borders.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Joe Mannarino, a pro-Trump figure online, labeled Leo a \u201cliberal piece of s***.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Vince Langman reposted an old tweet from Prevost criticizing Trump\u2019s immigration policies, writing, \u201cHe\u2019s a WOKE Never Trumper liberal.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Cardinal Prevost had previously spoken out against statements by VP JD Vance, particularly Vance\u2019s ranking of compassion based on national identity. Prevost posted on X (formerly Twitter):<\/p>\n

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    \u201cJD Vance is wrong. Jesus doesn\u2019t ask us to rank our love for others.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    That sentiment resurfaced quickly after Leo\u2019s election \u2014 drawing ire from MAGA figures who saw the Pope\u2019s global humanitarian values as a rebuke of their movement.<\/p>\n

    Faith, Politics, and the Future<\/h2>\n

    The 2025 papal conclave lasted less than 24 hours \u2014 swift by Vatican standards. Although Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines was a popular favorite among observers, Leo\u2019s election signaled continuity with Francis\u2019 values, while adding a uniquely American dimension to the Church\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n

    His election was a surprise even to his family.<\/p>\n

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    \u201cHe didn\u2019t think so,\u201d said John Prevost. \u201cBut I kind of did. He was one of three frontrunners. Still, it\u2019s surreal. I didn\u2019t believe it at first \u2014 and neither did he.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Now, as Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, he faces a divided audience \u2014 one that includes a growing number of critics from America\u2019s political far-right. Yet millions of Catholics around the world are celebrating a new chapter led by a man known for integrity, compassion, and a grounded faith.<\/p>\n

    What do you think of Pope Leo XIV\u2019s election? Share your thoughts with us and spread the word by sharing this story with your friends and family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Historic Papal Election: Pope Leo XIV Becomes First American Pontiff \u2014 and Sparks Controversy Among MAGA Supporters On the evening of May 8, 2025, white smoke rose above the Sistine … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":443,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions\/443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}