Pope Leo XIV has lit a fire under America’s conservative base — again.
In his latest papal document, the first American-born pope doesn’t just flirt with progressive ideas — he runs headfirst into them, calling out wealth inequality, slamming political ideologies that sideline charity, and taking a direct swipe at the kind of nationalism that’s fueled the MAGA movement. For many on the American right, it’s a declaration of ideological war.
“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.”
That line alone might’ve been enough to cause outrage in certain corners of the internet. But Leo didn’t stop there.
As reported by the Associated Press, he’s backed immigrants, supported action on climate change, taken aim at capitalism, and questioned the legitimacy of “pro-life” stances that don’t also oppose the death penalty or anti-migrant policies. All of it, unsurprisingly, has MAGA world seething.
“He weighs into the abortion question through remarks that are absolutely scandalous,” said John-Henry Westen, founder of Sign of the Cross Media. “He actually says if you call yourself pro-life and you’re in favor of the death penalty you’re not really pro-life.”
That quote refers to a moment in which Leo criticized the Archdiocese of Chicago’s decision to rescind a lifetime achievement award to Sen. Dick Durbin over his abortion stance. Leo made it clear he believes being “pro-life” means more than opposing abortion — it means opposing inhumane policies toward migrants and capital punishment too. That didn’t sit well with hardliners.
The pope’s words are rooted in a document originally started by his predecessor, Pope Francis, and they double down on a view of Christianity that centers social justice, compassion for the poor, and a not-so-subtle rebuke of conservative politics dressed up as religious principle.
“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 an interview with Crux. He knows the landscape — and he’s not pulling punches.
But many MAGA fans wish he would.
A priest from a conservative parish in North Carolina told the Washington Post his flock is rattled.
“I can say that my parishioners are saying something along the lines of, ‘why doesn’t he just focus on the church,’” the priest said. “I think people here generally think that the Holy Father, or anyone outside the United States, doesn’t understand what immigration looks like in the United States on the day-to-day ground level. They think he doesn’t fully understand the scope of it. Even he has walls in Vatican City.”
Social media exploded almost immediately.
“Oh, he’s not messing,” posted attorney Tim O’Connor. “This is a straight challenge to MAGA.”
“Pope Leo Invokes Criticism of Trump’s Policies in 1st Major Document,” declared Newsmax’s Logan Ratick.
“It is simply another Woke-Liberal-Socialist manifesto that will continue to lead the Faithful astray!” raged “Bishop” Christopher Richard of the Old Catholic Church. “Leo XIV = Francis 2.0!”
“MAGA: The pope has no business spouting this woke antifa rhetoric taken straight from the New Testament!” wrote Bill Shea.
“Stand with whomever you like, Woke Pope Leo,” posted X user Heather Langford. “Many of these illegal migrants raping, torturing, slaughtering our own people. It is captured on camera for evidence. God will not be impressed with your spiritual leadership. Or your bleeding heart. With mayhem around you.”
Even mainstream figures weighed in with sarcasm. “‘Shut up and sprinkle incense,'” joked Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch. Academic Siobhán McElduff chimed in, “The Catholic Church: famously known for staying out of politics and state affairs.”
But that’s exactly what Leo appears to be challenging — the notion that the church should be passive in the face of inequality, violence, and exclusion.
“The fact that some dismiss or ridicule charitable works, as if they were an obsession on the part of a few and not the burning heart of the church’s mission, convinces me of the need to go back and reread the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of this world,” Leo wrote.
It’s not hard to see who he’s talking about. And MAGA world sees it too — loud and clear.
