Americans Share Mixed Reactions After New Pope Leo XIV Announced as First American Pope

For the first time in the Vatican's history, an American has been chosen as pope.

White smoke from the Vatican heralded the announcement that Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis. Formerly the head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost took the name Pope Leo XIV on Thursday as he stepped into his role as the 267th pope.

The news thrilled US-based social media users, especially midwesterners, many of whom were not expecting to see their region represented in the Holy See.

"Midwestern Pope baby let's gooo," a post on X said, with another writing, "CHICAGO THE HOLY LAND." Chicagoans dove right into the important questions, like sports team preferences and how he feels about pizza. "Is he a Blackhawks fan?" one asked.

"Someone please tell me if he hails from woke or conservative Chicago," another resident wanted to know.

Outside of Chicago, reactions to an American pope were mixed amidst a polarizing political climate. "An American pope? We're doomed," one complained. "It's so over," wrote someone else.

For others, an American pope meant, "We're so f----- back."

Given the internet's tendency towards polarization, the announcement quickly turned political. "Is he MAGA?" a user questioned, with another writing, "Let's go new pope! Make Vatican great again." Images of Pope Trump flooded several comment threads.

At the other end of the political spectrum, some users hoped Pope Leo could redeem the US to the world. "America, which cursed the world with Donald Trump...is now going to bless it with Pope Leo, Robert Prevost, from Chicago," one comment suggested.

Already, previous comments from Prevost are spreading. To the delight of the left, a February post from the new pope said, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others."

Though the majority of posts celebrated the dawn of a new papacy, others shared disappointment that their preferred cardinal failed to advance from the conclave.

While just 20% of the US identifies as Catholic, the first American pope clearly has the country's attention as the world becomes acquainted with the new Holy See.