Like Donald J. Trump, the new Pope is a U.S. citizen. And possibly both may have once dreamed of becoming the Pope. But with that, the similarities come to an end.
Yesterday, the Papal conclave chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American who has spent considerable time in Peru. Prevost will now be known as Pope Leo the XIV, except for those in Chicago who have dubbed him “Southside Bobby.” (He seems to be a Chicago White Sox fan, poor chap.) A week ago, just a few days after Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, during the nine-day official period of mourning, Trump re-posted a (scowling) image of himself as Pope. This bizarre image, seen above, was posted on the official White House social media account.
Although he did not create it, he thought it was “fun,” and said that “Melania thought it was “cute.”
Last month, he did say he would “like to be Pope,” but he made this statement as a “joke” rather than a serious declaration of intent. When asked by reporters in late April 2025 who he would like to see as the next head of the Catholic Church, Trump quipped, “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.”
Back in the late 1980s, I met a woman on top of a mountain in Western North Carolina. At a lookout point along the Blue Ridge Parkway, she was picnicking with several young people, and they were all singing God’s praises along with a guitar. As we were leaving, I had a brief conversation with her; and when she asked if I had been “saved,” I told her, yes, that I attended St. John’s Episcopal in Sylva. She gave me a discerning look and said, “That’s good, but is your church spirit filled?”
When I listen to the new Pope yesterday, I could feel that he was truly filled with the spirit.
“Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.
“This is the peace of the risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome — the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.”
“Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him like a bridge to reach God and his love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”
The transcendent love of Jesus was evident as he spoke in Italian, translated instantaneously by NPR’s long time Rome correspondent Sylvia Poggioli; by contrast, here is a recent rant from Donald Trump. It is also spirit filled with filled with the spirit of negativity retribution anger and hate. Since he was not going to Church on Easter, he sent an “Easter Greeting” that went like this:
“Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well-known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country. Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten! Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America. He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing – But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-skips-church-and-goes-on-unhinged-easter-posting-spree-instead
Spirit, filled? Spirited, in a way, but not with the spirit of Jesus (or Easter!). There is no detectible spirit of love and unity with him.
Of course, it’s perfectly legal to re-post a picture of yourself as Pope (even a scowling Pope Donald). but it seemed disrespectful to many Catholics who have commented along those lines.
“Many Catholics, including bishops and official Catholic organizations, found the image disrespectful, particularly given the timing during the nine-day mourning period (Novemdiales) for Pope Francis. The New York State Catholic Conference, representing bishops in New York, publicly rebuked Trump, stating, “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrg8zkz8d0o
But what’s so absurd about Trump as Pope is the contrast between his Easter Message” and Pope Leo XIV’s first address at St. Peter’s square in Rome. Unlike Pope Leo, Trump will never understand that we are connected –– that we all matter, and that love is stronger than hate especially the love of Jesus Christ. And to again reference one my favorite the e-mail taglines (thank you, Rev. Girsch) ––from the TV series Bosch, “everybody counts or nobody counts.”
With Pope Leo XII, you get the sense that everybody counts. With Trump, it’s clear by now that he’s counting all kinds of enemies who must be punished: universities, media, immigrants, Democrats, and China. The “divider in chief” is filled with a sprit, but not the spirit of Jesus or Pope Leo XIV.