If you believe the official line, Pope Leo XIV is the direct successor to St. Peter, Jesus Christ’s chosen representative of his church on Earth. He’s the chief living representative of the new covenant between God and man that allows all to seek forgiveness for their sins. But even if you don’t believe any of that, Leo is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the largest organization on Earth spreading that message of absolution through belief.
The first pope to hail from the United States has been vocal in his opposition to certain actions and policies carried out by Donald Trump’s administration. He’s maligned the Republican focus on mass deportations, calling on governments around the world to “welcome the stranger” during his Christmas homily. In recent weeks, Leo has been extremely critical of the U.S. war on Iran, including on Thursday, when he took aim at “a handful of tyrants” ravaging the world with war. During Palm Sunday Mass, he said that “God does not accept the prayers of those who choose violence.”
