Pope Leo XI Emerges as Potential Counterweight to Donald Trump
Vatican City – In a surprising growth, Pope Leo XI is being increasingly viewed as a potential force to moderate the policies and rhetoric of US President Donald Trump. As Trump enters his final three years in office, concerns are mounting over increasingly authoritarian behavior, religious hypocrisy, and escalating global challenges, prompting speculation about who might effectively challenge his governance.
The emergence of the Pope as a possible check on Trump’s power stems from a broader trend of Christian nationalists aligning with right-wing populist leaders in the US, Britain, and Europe, co-opting religious belief for political gain. Commentator David Brooks recently observed that “Christian nationalism is particular rather than universal… about power more than love… about threat more than hope,” a description many see as applicable to both the Maga movement and the UK’s Reform party.
Observers suggest Pope Leo XI, at 70 years old and with a lifetime appointment, possesses the moral authority, political acumen, and international standing to confront Trump on critical issues including poverty, inequality, migration, civil rights, Russia, and the conflict in Palestine. The potential for the Pope to ”shame and tame the monster,” as one analyst put it, hinges on garnering support not only from Catholics but from “all men and women of good will,” echoing a plea from the late Pope Francis.
The possibility of such a confrontation is underscored by the historical precedent of brave figures facing martyrdom for their convictions, a sentiment resonating with the challenges facing those who might oppose Trump’s agenda.
This article was amended on 23 November 2025. An earlier picture caption incorrectly identified US vice-president JD Vance as marco Rubio.
