" This is n’t a Bishop of Rome who will just dwell down and do whatever Trump demands . "

If you weren’t obsessively watching the Vatican’s chimney these past couple of days, you might have missed when the smoke turned white anda new pope was electedthis week. His name?Pope Leo XIV, who is the first American pope to ever be elected.

But how are people feeling about this new American pope? Well,-Appleaday-asked: “The first ever American pope was just chosen, Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost). What do you think about the new pope?” and a lot of people answered. Here’s what they said below.

1.“First ever American and good friends with Francis. Hope this is a good continuation of the Francis years.”

2.“The Vatican is making a strategic move. Whatever happens next for the world is going to depend a lot on what the US does. The US has a Catholic vice president and a predominantly Catholic Supreme Court right now. An American pope will be able to speak more directly to an American people who are going to be at the center of a lot of important things in the coming years. This isn’t a pope who will just lie down and do whatever Trump demands, either. This is a pope with close ties to Francis and a history of opposition to Trump.”

" I suspect that their hope is that he will act as a moral equalizer to the barbarousness of the Trump administration . It ’s also worth noting that Vicar of Christ incline to choose a name that ties them to the previous pope who used that name . He pick out Leo XIV .

Leo XIIIwas known for being extremely supportive of workers ' rights . The Vatican made a fascinating move here . I think they see the writing on the bulwark for what ’s to issue forth in the US and for the reality . multitude will want to intimate that this is some corrupt bargain or something , but I do n’t believe it is . "

— xGray3

A clergy member in ornate religious vestments raises their hands during a public appearance

3.“Very good chance he’s done a shot of Malort.”

4.“I grew up Catholic in the U.S.: Catholic high school, Sunday Mass with my religious dad and grandparents, parties for family baptisms and First Communions, the whole thing. Even though I now consider myself a lapsed Catholic, I still pay attention when moments like this happen.”

" The election of Leo is surreal . It feels monumental , particularly amount from a very Catholic state like Massachusetts ( wad of the Irish and Portuguese diaspora there are shape by Catholicism ) . I was genuinely impressed by Pope Francis ’ papacy . He managed to try and overhaul the church in a meaningful style while staying grounded in its institutional root . A tough balance , particularly as much of the world swing toward populism and rigid conservativism . I desire Leo continues that flight , especially with Trump and JD Vance likely to encounter with him before long .

The name Leo is pregnant , too . Popes who ’ve chosen that name have often been crusader and fighters . Leo XIII , for case , was the architect ofRerum Novarum , the Church ’s foundational document on societal judge during the Industrial Revolution . That bequest hints that Leo XIV may deal Francis ’ vision .

That said , I ’m concerned about report card of criticism aroundLeo ’s handling of clergy insult allegations . That effect stay a moral smear the Church still has n’t fully reckoned with . I really hope Leo does n’t waver from accountability or transparence .

A person in religious attire smiling and waving outside, wearing a papal hat and robe, captured in a candid moment

If he accompany the path Francis determine , this could be another determine era for the Church . But we ’ll have to see . The symbolisation is powerful . The means has to keep up . "

— bawlhie62a2

5.“Let’s celebrate by getting Popeyes tonight. Pope Yes.”

— Wayward_Whines

7.“I think that it’s going to be fun watching 47 try to pretend like he’s best friends with the Pope just because he’s American.”

8.“Someone high up in the American church once said that there wouldn’t be an American pope until the US was in political decline. I agree with him that this is a further sign that the world no longer sees the US as the world’s superpower. He’s anaturalized citizen of Peruand left the US in his 20s, so I’m not overly worried about him being influenced by American political currents. As for my hopes/thoughts about him as pope, no opinion, I’m a former Catholic who doesn’t care what the church says for the most part; I just hope he takes the church more in the direction Francis was moving it (e.g., more liberal/open/accepting).”

— jtexnl

9.“I like that he is a mathematician.”

10.“John Paul II (Polish) was elected and helped ridPoland of communism during the Cold War. This is the most recent example of a pope being a major political figure without being a political figure, if that makes sense. We are about to watch right-wingers have a crisis of faith and politics like we’ve never seen before. Should be interesting.”

— unabnormalday

11.“My Catholic family members seem happy, and they’re not the kind to use religion to be holier-than-thou, so I’ll take that as a good sign.”

12.“Hopefully, he’s as nice a guy as Francis. I know he’s an Augustinian, and a lot of friars who are Augustinians do a lot of charitable work with poor people, at least here in Brazil.”

— malu_saadi

13.“I’m not so sure this isn’t the Catholic Church taking a shot at Trump. Trump has usurped Christianity in this country for his own political purposes. It’s wild to see people treating him as some sort of Jesus figure despite him quite obviously not caring about religion at all. Having an American pope with ties to Latin America who is seen as liberal and critical of Trump would really go a long way to undermine his support. I don’t personally have that positive of an impression of the Catholic Church, or religion in general, but I’ll take any ally I can get right now. All these guys cover for predators in their ranks. They’ll call it Christian forgiveness.”

14.“Imma call him Pope Bob. Go bears.”

— Legitimate_Glove_807

" Daaaaa Pope ! "

— gangreen424

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16.“We got Bob Pope beforeGTA6.”

— Optimal_scientists

17.“I’m incredibly happy as an American Catholic. Never in a million years did I think we’d see a pope from the States. I always envied the celebration that happened in Argentina when Francis was elected. Now, I understand how they felt.”

18.“Chicago Med,Chicago Fire,Chicago P.D., and now: Chicago Pope. This television universe is getting wild.”

— Romnonaldao

19.“MAGA will hate him. The fact that he has criticized Trump and Vance, anddidn’t address the world in English, will make him a MAGA target once they realize what just happened. He’s going to say be good to immigrants and LGBTQ+, and they will lose their minds (whatever mind they have left).”

20.“He’s from Chicago. Ketchup on hot dogs is now a mortal sin.”

— JMFR

21.And finally, “Please don’t accept a visit from JD Vance.”

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