Right now, many people see Trump and Pope Leo as the most powerful Americans in the world. They have a lot of influence in their different jobs and areas.

One new American leader chose "Fight!" as his motto, while the other introduced himself to the world with the word "Peace" when he became pope.

The differences between President Donald Trump and Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV are very clear, whether you look at their politics, their personalities, or how they see the world. They have different jobs and work in different areas.

However, Leo's important election last week, where he became the first US-born pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, means that the two most powerful people in the world are American. This makes people wonder about American influence, especially because Trump's trade disagreements and strong statements have changed many years of international order and made allies less trusting of the United States.

Many people thought the Catholic Church didn't choose an American Pope for almost 250 years because they were worried about how much power America had in the world. But this changed last week when former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago was chosen to be the 267th Pope, now called Pope Leo XIV.

David Gibson, who is the director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, said that the strange thing about Leo’s election is that many people in other countries will see it as a sign of hope, thinking he is an American who will speak for them instead of acting against them.

Pope Leo presents a different facet of American identity on the international stage.

The first surprise and happiness about the cardinal who wasn't very well known being chosen soon turned into a strong discussion about how two Americans could be at the very top of global power.

Trump does not like to share attention or be the most important person, which is clear from his "America first" foreign policy. However, American Catholics chose Trump instead of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

To try and get their support, Trump shared an AI picture of himself dressed as a pope while people were sad about Pope Francis dying on April 21st. Some Catholics and Italians did not like this. Trump said he didn't post the picture himself and that people who were upset couldn't understand a joke. He strongly said that Catholics liked it.

Nonetheless, Trump extended his well wishes to Leo, deeming it a "great honor" that the new pope held American citizenship.

At the same time, Pope Leo is also seen as a politician. He has a calm way of acting and talks to the other cardinals in small groups before the meeting, people said. Even though he was born in Chicago, Leo, who was called Prevost then, worked as a missionary in Peru for 20 years. After that, Pope Francis chose him in 2023 to lead the important Vatican office that checks bishops all over the world.

He would not be the first pope to involve himself in international politics. Pope John Paul II, for instance, is justifiably recognized for assisting in the demise of communism. However, Leo assumes the papacy having previously voiced criticism of Vice President JD Vance, the most prominent Catholic figure in American politics, on social media. Leo disagrees with the administration on policy matters like immigration – a defining issue for Trump – and environmental concerns.

Echoing Trump's focus, Leo has pivoted his attention towards the media. During an address in Vatican City on Monday, he advocated for the liberation of incarcerated journalists and underscored the collective imperative to uphold the invaluable tenets of free speech and a free press. This stands in stark contrast to Trump's persistently confrontational stance towards journalists, evident across various arenas, from the White House to the judiciary.

Trump and Pope Leo operate within distinct domains as leaders.

In early February, Leo — then still Prevost by name — circulated an article originating from a Catholic periodical, featuring the headline, “JD Vance is mistaken: Jesus does not require us to prioritise our affection for others.”

This occurred mere days after Vance, a convert to Catholicism, discussed immigration in a Fox News interview, referencing a Christian principle outlining priorities of affection: family, then neighbors, community, fellow citizens, and lastly, the rest of the world.

Speaking in Italian to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, Leo shared a different idea for the Church and how people relate to each other. He said, "We need to be a church that works together to build connections and keep our arms open, like this square, welcoming everyone."

Vance said the papacy is more important than politics and social media. He explained that it is difficult to fit a 2,000-year-old institution into American politics in 2025. He added that it is better for everyone if the church focuses on saving souls.

Steven Millies, who is the director of The Bernardin Center in Chicago, said that when Trump and Leo became popular at the same time, it showed how religion and culture came together. He also said that religion and politics don't fit well together because they have different goals.

In an email, Millies said, “Both Francis and then Cardinal Prevost were acting like bishops – teaching the Gospel and reminding us that the Gospel is always for the poor, the troubled, and those who are suffering. This is not something Trump does as a president, a reality TV star, or a businessman.”

To what extent does Pope Leo’s world view reflect American characteristics?

Scholars say that because Leo has lived in Peru for many years and is a citizen of both countries, he might have a wider understanding of people, power, and how religion and politics are connected.

Apart from the clear personality differences with Trump, Leo is expected to use his power in a different way, helping the people who need it most first. This is different from Trump, who stopped American aid. Leo did not talk about his American background in his first speech, and he did not speak English. Some people who watch the Vatican said this shows his focus is on the world.

Although it is true that Leo is the first pope born in the U.S., it is better to see him as the second pope from the Americas. This idea questions the 'America first' way of thinking and sees the region more as a whole, like Pope Francis did first, focusing on the global south, according to Raul Zegarra, an assistant professor of Roman Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School.

He said, 'This shows a pope who understands leading globally through talking with others, not being isolated. He understands power through serving, not dominating.' He added, 'It's hard to imagine a bigger difference compared to the current government in the U.S.'

According to some American cardinals, Leo's style and perspective are not particularly American, and his U.S. background had minimal, if any, bearing on his papal selection. Nevertheless, Trump's presence loomed over the proceedings.

Six American cardinals who were part of the meeting came onto the stage at a press conference while loud music like "Born in the USA" and "American Pie" played. Then, one by one, they said Leo was not very American. One cardinal repeated a popular saying that Leo was "the least American of the American" cardinals. Several said they thought Leo would help connect with the Trump government, explaining that the Latin word "pontiff" means someone who builds bridges.

When questioned about whether the cardinals elected Leo to counteract Trump, several denied it.

“I doubt my fellow cardinals would have considered him a counterbalance to any individual,” remarked Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.

Wilton Gregory, the former archbishop of Washington, said that the cardinals clearly knew about the events, statements, and political actions in the United States. But he added that the main goal of the meeting was to choose someone who could make the faith stronger.

Millies said: “The world shouldn’t be afraid of a pope from the U.S. In fact, it’s the opposite. Because he is 'the least American of the Americans,' he hasn't been affected by our recent politics. This might make him seem safer, even though he is still an American who knows the good side of this country very well.”

Darlene Superville, a writer for the Associated Press based in Washington, made a contribution to this report.