The Vatican Elects Its First-Ever American Pope — What Do You Know About Him?

[Macro Exchange]

So yeah… it finally happened — the new Pope is American. First time ever.
Honestly, didn’t expect that. The guy’s known for being kinda modern, into social issues, and has a diplomatic background.

Makes me wonder — is this a meaningful shift for the Church or just a symbolic change?
Also, how do you think people around the world — especially in Europe and Latin America — will respond to the first American Pope?
What are your thoughts?

Just saw the news that we’ve got the first-ever American Pope
But then I came across this:

  63x on the Pope prediction — someone on Polymarket turned $1,000 into $63,000 by correctly betting on the new Pope.
Talk about confidence  

It’s especially interesting to see how people are now betting on literally everything...
What’s next — bets on the next Dalai Lama?  


[moderator's note: multiple posts have been merged]

[rodskee]

So yeah… it finally happened — the new Pope is American. First time ever.
Honestly, didn’t expect that. The guy’s known for being kinda modern, into social issues, and has a diplomatic background.

yeah i thought it was gonna be an italian with how much everyone was talking about bringing home the papacy to italy i also hoped it would have been one of our own and we get an asian pope for the first time as well

Makes me wonder — is this a meaningful shift for the Church or just a symbolic change?
Also, how do you think people around the world — especially in Europe and Latin America — will respond to the first American Pope?
What are your thoughts?

stronger catholic views in latam since from what i know the new pope is also peruvian

[paxmao]

While he is US born citizen, his ascent if French and Spanish and was during 20 years in Peru. I think that his initial speech sayis a lot: bridges between cultures, disarmed peace, understanding.

While in usual circumstances I would consider this a BAU choice and a BAU discourse, I cannot help to notice that these messages completely opose those that Trump is sending (the alien is an enemy, peace must be an armed peace, ...)

[Accardo]

The republicans would have him on their side to help achieve the goals of American people, it's a great news to see that the new administration in Rome also favored the Americans. It's been a big political news today, and they'll be no essence digging deep about him he's come a long way, and we hope he signs executive orders that would help develop peace and love across the world.

[paxmao]

The republicans would have him on their side to help achieve the goals of American people, it's a great news to see that the new administration in Rome also favored the Americans. It's been a big political news today, and they'll be no essence digging deep about him he's come a long way, and we hope he signs executive orders that would help develop peace and love across the world.

You have not heard the speech of the Pope right? Because he is saying pretty much the opposite to what you are saying. And do not forget that many of Trump voters are religious people who do consider the Pope's views.

Someone who has been working in Peru and along Francis for a long time is certainly not the go-to person to talk about deportations, bativism or that short of Crap. Particularly being of European ancestry.

[BADecker]

Trump probably made a deal. Now we have a MAGA pope.

[NotATether]

Trump probably made a deal. Now we have a MAGA pope.

That would have been believable if we didn't already know that the Vatican shuts down the cellular networks, confiscates all mobile phones, and puts signal jammers all around the building to stop people from leaking information to the outside world.

It's an effective form of security but it's super weird.

[Fiatless]

Is Trump's picture on social media that showed him as the new Pope an indication that there will be a US-born head of the Vatican? I am a bit disappointed that the new Pope is from a continent that is close to where the former Pontiff came from. I was expecting to see a Black Pope or someone from Europe or even Asia. Since it is a religious affair or is seen as divinely guided, there are no questions or regrets from me. I pray he contributes positively to the church and the world at large.

[Dunamisx]

Let me help you in positing his image here since you're a newbie and cant post an image.

Here is the face of our new pope Leo XIV elected, you can also read more about his biography from this link to get more information about the newly elected Pope https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-pope-robert-prevost-pope-leo-xiv/ Congratulations! Pope Leo XIV

May this new regime bring in more abundance of good things to the entire humanity all over the world.

[paxmao]

Let me help you in positing his image here since you're a newbie and cant post an image.

Here is the face of our new pope Leo XIV elected, you can also read more about his biography from this link to get more information about the newly elected Pope https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-pope-robert-prevost-pope-leo-xiv/ Congratulations! Pope Leo XIV

May this new regime bring in more abundance of good things to the entire humanity all over the world.

Regime? There is no new regime my friend, the Vatican is still a Theocracy.

This Pope was a close collaborator of Francis and seems inclined to follow the same line of social conscience, cleaning the scandals and leaving the far right positions of the RCC in the shadows where they belong. I have high hopes, but Francis has set the bar very high.

[Kelward]

I didn't know much about the new Pope, before he was elected but whatever I know now is not important, he is now the Pope, of the Catholic church and that is what matters. The office of the Pope, is not a political position so it is not up for a debate about why shouldn't he be from Europe, or Asia. It was a spiritual exercise to elect him and I believe that the Cardinals knows what is best for the church and he will uphold what the Catholic church is known for. I don't understand why some people are seeing the new Pope, being an American like it's because America, is a superpower. I believe that he wasn't elected because of his region but because he's the right person to be the next Pope.

[Lucius]

I would just remind people that this election is actually the election of the late Pope Francis, because most of the cardinals who were in the conclave were appointed by the previous pope. In other words, he ensured that he would be succeeded by someone who would clearly continue to implement his ideas.

Perhaps the new pope will finally shed light on the case of  Emanuela Orlandi (Vatican citizen) who disappeared 40+ years ago in a tangle of very strange circumstances about which the Vatican is still vowed to remain silent.

The three popes who were in power from 1983 until recently should have worn black, not white, robes - because knowing where someone's daughter and sister are for so many years and keeping quiet about it is completely contrary to everything the Catholic Church teaches.

[BADecker]

I think that's a wedding ring on his left hand, and they simply turned the picture backwards.
I mean, look at the tattoo they are trying to cover up on his wrist.

[Rgram]

The republicans would have him on their side to help achieve the goals of American people, it's a great news to see that the new administration in Rome also favored the Americans. It's been a big political news today, and they'll be no essence digging deep about him he's come a long way, and we hope he signs executive orders that would help develop peace and love across the world.

This is coming at a time when America is just getting a new president that wants to make America great again is just settling in so it’s double standards for the US having a pope that’ll support the American goals of being a great nation again for the Russians and the rest of the world to fear..I pray he puts into bill that any transgender/pro LGBTQ should put an end to that madness and restore sanity in the Christian world..

[Rgram]

I think that's a wedding ring on his left hand, and they simply turned the picture backwards.
I mean, look at the tattoo they are trying to cover up on his wrist.

I’ve gone to see the pictures over and over and over without seeing anything hidden in anyway..the ring is still his golden ring as a cardinal and no visible tattoos so far..

[aioc]

So yeah… it finally happened — the new Pope is American. First time ever.
Honestly, didn’t expect that. The guy’s known for being kinda modern, into social issues, and has a diplomatic background.

It surprised everyone, and with this result, people will stop betting on who the next Pope will be because every cardinal has an equal chance; it's very unpredictable.
The new Pope has a degree in Mathematics and can speak several languages. His choice of name, Leo, symbolizes the work of the first Pope named Leo, who upheld the rights of the workers. Thus, we will have an idea of the path the new Pope is going to lead.

[bullbandit9]

I wasn't expecting that.

63x on the Pope prediction — someone on Polymarket turned $1,000 into $63,000 by correctly betting on the new Pope.
Talk about confidence  

Wow, those are some very high odds. Great profit.

It’s especially interesting to see how people are now betting on literally everything...
What’s next — bets on the next Dalai Lama?  

Why not? If people with power can gamble the world economics on a whim, why should normal people not be able to bet on everyday events?

Regime? There is no new regime my friend, the Vatican is still a Theocracy.

This Pope was a close collaborator of Francis and seems inclined to follow the same line of social conscience, cleaning the scandals and leaving the far right positions of the RCC in the shadows where they belong. I have high hopes, but Francis has set the bar very high.

You mean, minimal cleanup while the real abuse is still widespread? I don't see a very high bar, maybe you are looking at less important things.

[BADecker]

I think that's a wedding ring on his left hand, and they simply turned the picture backwards.
I mean, look at the tattoo they are trying to cover up on his wrist.

https://talkimg.com/images/2025/05/09/UUNn0P.jpeg

I’ve gone to see the pictures over and over and over without seeing anything hidden in anyway..the ring is still his golden ring as a cardinal and no visible tattoos so far..

Yeah. I was just blabbing. Sorry.     

[Macro Exchange]

So yeah… it finally happened — the new Pope is American. First time ever.
Honestly, didn’t expect that. The guy’s known for being kinda modern, into social issues, and has a diplomatic background.

It surprised everyone, and with this result, people will stop betting on who the next Pope will be because every cardinal has an equal chance; it's very unpredictable.
The new Pope has a degree in Mathematics and can speak several languages. His choice of name, Leo, symbolizes the work of the first Pope named Leo, who upheld the rights of the workers. Thus, we will have an idea of the path the new Pope is going to lead.

True, the choice of a mathematically-minded, multilingual Pope named Leo sends a strong signal: logic, communication, and justice might define his papacy. 

[Hispo]

I wonder how this new pope is going to mix up with the current objectives of the United States and the Trump administration,.to be honest. At first glance he seems to be a person who is intelligent and compassionate enough to uphold the values of the Catholic church, over the interests of Trump or the interest of the government of the USA.

Only time will tell this will be a good pope or there will nothing remarkable about him to deal the Catholic church forwards.
I doubt he will have something to do with MAGA or Trump anyways.