Pope Leo discusses Trump and Vance in first indepth interview since conclave Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY September 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM 760 Pope Leo XIV shared his thoughts on Donald Trump and how the Catholic Church's first American pontiff might work with the president in his first indepth interview ...
- - Pope Leo discusses Trump and Vance in first in-depth interview since conclave
Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY September 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM
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Pope Leo XIV shared his thoughts on Donald Trump and how the Catholic Church's first American pontiff might work with the president in his first in-depth interview since his election to the papacy in May.
In the interview released Sept. 18, the Illinois-born pope touched on a wide range of topics, including the political climate in the United States. The pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was born and raised in a south suburb of Chicago. He also holds Peruvian citizenship after spending much of his career there.
Leo, 70, told the religious news outlet Crux that he doesn't plan to "get involved in partisan politics" but added he's "not afraid to raise issues" he considers Gospel.
The pope also recalled a conversation he had with Vice President JD Vance, in which he said he spoke to the Republican leader about the importance of human dignity. Vance, the first converted Catholic to serve as vice president, met privately with the new pope – alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and their wives – less than two weeks after Leo's selection.
"Obviously, there's some things going on in the States that are of concern," Leo said. "We continue to look for ways to at least respond and raise some of the questions that need to be asked."
The pope said he hasn't yet met with Trump or had direct conversations with him but mentioned his brother's headline-grabbing visit to the Oval Office.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV's eldest brother Louis Prevost at the White House on May 20.
Louis Prevost and his wife, Deborah, met briefly with the president and vice president, and they posed for photographs in the Oval Office on May 20. Trump told reporters he likes the pope and both of his brothers, calling out Louis Prevost for being a "a major MAGA fan."
"One of my brothers has met him and has been very outspoken about his political viewpoints," Leo said. "But if or when there were specific issues that, if it were possible to engage with him, I would have no problem doing so."
The pope also applauded his predecessor's open letter to Catholics in February that criticized Trump's immigration policies and mass deportations, calling them dangerous and a "major crisis."
Pope Leo XIV blesses the crowd during the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta (Liberty Square) in front of Palazzo Apostolico (Apostolic Palace) in the summer papal estate in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, July 13, 2025.
"I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters," Francis wrote.
Leo said he was "very happy" to see some American bishops who were "courageous enough" to pick up on Francis' letter and indicated he would take similar paths to working with Catholic leadership in the United States.
"I have met a lot of world leaders, and there are significant issues that can be raised," Leo said when asked about how he might work with Trump. "But it would be impossible for the pope to get involved in individual countries around the world, to say, 'This is what you should be doing, that's what you should be thinking.'"
Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pope Leo talks Trump, Vance and intended approach to U.S. in interview
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