They are as different as one can get, both in opinions and in personal appearance. In 2026, the rift could be total between the world's two most powerful Americans: Donald Trump and Leo XIV.
After just over six months in the Vatican, the US-born pope has begun to sharpen his rhetoric against Washington.
From the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV spoke of peace and reconciliation in his first Christmas address . He specifically mentioned the suffering in Gaza, called for compassion for refugees around the world, and for dialogue between the United States and Latin America.
– There is peace when our monologues are interrupted, when we listen and fall to our knees, enriched by the humanity of our neighbor.
An hour later, Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States had launched missile attacks on Nigeria, against "IS scum" who are killing Christians at a level we haven't seen "in hundreds of years."
There were two 70-plus men with radically different visions for how the world can be made better, this Christmas Day 2025.
They both took office in the first half of the year and have barely mentioned each other by name since. But after a cautious start, Pope Leo has gradually become more political – and not in a way that Trump likes.
The former Pope, Francis, was early labeled as a "leftist." He was sharply critical of an inhumane refugee policy and warned about the effects of climate change. He showed openness towards homosexuals and divorced Catholics.
He was often openly critical of Donald Trump, such as when he said that anyone who builds border walls "is not Christian."
When Leo was elected, he was seen by many Catholics as a compromise candidate: ideologically in line with his predecessor – but very different from him in terms of style.
Pope Francis was known for his refusal to surround himself with luxury and comfort. He once literally crawled in the dust before two South Sudanese warlords and begged them to make peace.
On several occasions he washed and kissed the feet of the outcast and poor. He refused all comfort and luxury.
Leo XIV, on the other hand, has resumed the tradition of retreating from the Vatican once a week to the comfortable summer palace of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome – which Francis declined. This week, fashion magazine Vogue named the new pope one of the world's 55 best-dressed people, along with profiles such as Bad Bunny and Zoë Kravitz.
Leo also appears to be far less spontaneous than Francis. His appearance is very cautious.
But instead of creating attention through unexpected statements, he has worked behind the scenes. Ahead of a bishops' conference in the United States, he traveled to Texas for a private meeting with a small group, where he spoke strongly against Trump's mass deportations of migrants.
The result was a strong condemnation of the "climate of fear" that Trump's policies had created, with their "insult to migrants." Only 5 out of over 200 American bishops voted against the statement, which the Pope later called "very important."
During Francis' time, the bishops in the United States were far more divided into a conservative and a progressive faction.
Many in the US are now seeing signs that Leo is prepared to take on influential Maga Catholics like Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tom Homan, the head of the feared immigration police, Ice. But in his own, discreet way.
The Pope's commitment to refugees has been clear since he took office. But recently he has also begun, cautiously, to touch on other world political issues.
Earlier in December, for example, he was critical of the US and Russia negotiating over Ukraine without involving the EU. He has criticized the US threat of war against Venezuela, and is also increasingly speaking out about the importance of international cooperation against climate change.
At the same time, his views on issues such as abortion, LGBTQ rights and euthanasia are very traditional. There he can find common ground even with American right-wing Catholics.
Catholics JD Vance and Marco Rubio met Leo at the Vatican just a couple of weeks after his inauguration. It was all smiles and polite phrases.
Will the Pope meet with Trump in 2026? His official travel plans include Africa and Latin America – but not the United States.
Trump, however, has said he is prepared to meet Leo in connection with a possible visit to his father's hometown in Germany. In a recent interview in Politico, the president evasively answered a question about the Pope:
– I haven't heard any statements from the Pope. I'm sure he's a wonderful man. His brother is lovely – have you heard he's a total Maga?
Read more:
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