Trump Applauds as Wind of Change Blows from the Vatican: America Lands Its First-Ever Pope!

In a twist that seems plucked straight from a Netflix drama about ecclesiastical politics, the Vatican sent plumes of white smoke into the Roman sky on Thursday, signaling the election of a new spiritual leader—one born not in Rome, Buenos Aires, or Kraków, but in the heartland of America: Chicago.

The man of the hour? Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. And among the many reactions pouring in from across the globe, one voice rang out louder (and bolder) than most: U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who took to his favourite megaphone, Truth Social ,to celebrate the historic moment.

“Big congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, just named Pope!” Trump wrote in all his signature capitalised flair. “First American Pope ever. A tremendous honour for the U.S. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV, very special!”

Indeed, the Vatican’s centuries-old process concluded after two days of deliberation, with the cardinal electors reaching a two-thirds majority. The ritualistic “habemus papam” declaration rang out from St. Peter’s Basilica as the newly minted Pope Leo XIV stepped forward, offering the crowd a simple blessing: “Peace be with you.”

At 69, the Chicago-born pontiff brings both North and South American ties to the role. A former missionary in Peru, Prevost carries dual citizenship and most recently helmed the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. His papacy already promises a narrative as layered as his cultural résumé.

Meanwhile, Trump, never one to shy away from holy aspirations, had previously quipped about throwing his red hat into the ring after Pope Francis passed away in April. “I’d like to be pope,” he joked to reporters, adding, “That would be my number one choice.” While the remark drew chuckles, he later floated a more serious endorsement of a New York-based cardinal—likely Archbishop Timothy Dolan—as a top contender.

Dolan, who has enjoyed proximity to Trump through ceremonial roles—including the invocation at his second inauguration—presided over a memorial mass for Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on April 26.

The idea of an American pope once seemed far-fetched to scholars and sceptics alike. As recently as last month, theologians cited global power dynamics as a reason for excluding U.S. candidates from serious consideration. “The Church typically avoids concentrating too much power in one region,” noted Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, professor of Catholic Studies at DePaul University.

Yet here we are. Against all expectations, the papal throne now has a U.S. passport in its pocket.

Whether Pope Leo XIV’s reign ushers in a new era of transatlantic ecclesial relations or remains a symbolic nod to American Catholicism’s global presence remains to be seen. But for now, President Trump and the country he leads are relishing the heavenly headline.

Written By Queen Diana