Currently, Trump and Pope Leo are considered highly influential Americans globally. They hold leadership positions in distinct capacities and spheres.

One new American leader's motto was 'Fight!' The other new leader, the pope, introduced himself to the world by saying 'Peace'.

President Trump and Pope Leo XIV are very different people with different ideas.

But Leo's important election last week to become the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, as the first pope born in the U.S., means that the two most powerful people in the world are Americans. This makes people think about how much power America has, because Trump's trade problems and threats have changed many things around the world and made other countries that were friends not trust the U.S. anymore.

Some people thought the Catholic Church didn't choose an American Pope for a long time because they were afraid of America being too powerful in the world. But last week, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago became the new Pope.

David Gibson said it is strange that many people in other countries will see Leo's election as a sign of hope. They think he will speak for them instead of acting against them.

Pope Leo is different from other Americans on the world stage.

People were surprised and happy when a cardinal not many people knew was chosen. Then they talked a lot about how two Americans could be the most important leaders in the world.

People say Trump doesn't like sharing attention or being the most important. His idea of "America first" for other countries shows this. American Catholics chose Trump instead of Kamala Harris, who was the other main candidate.

Trump shared a picture online that looked like him dressed as a pope. Some people did not like this. Trump said he did not share the picture and that it was a joke.

But Trump said he hoped Leo would do well and that it was good that the new pope was American.

They said that Pope Leo is also like a politician. He is calm and talks to the other cardinals in small groups before they choose the new Pope. He was born in Chicago, but Leo lived in Peru for twenty years as a missionary. In 2023, Pope Francis chose him to work for the Vatican and check bishops all over the world.

Other popes have also talked about world problems. For example, Pope John Paul II helped end communism. But before Leo became pope, he already argued with JD Vance, an important Catholic politician in America, on the internet. Leo does not agree with the government on things like who can come into the country and taking care of the planet.

Like Trump, Leo is also thinking about the media. On Monday in Vatican City, he said that journalists who are in prison should be set free. He also said that "we all need to protect the important gift of free speech and a free press." But Trump has fought with journalists, from the White House to the courts.

Trump and Pope Leo are leaders, but they lead in different ways.

In early February, Leo, whose name was Prevost then, shared an article from a Catholic magazine. The article was titled: "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to love some people more than others."

This happened a few days after Vance, who is now Catholic, talked about immigration on TV. He said that in his religion, you should love your family first, then your neighbors, then your community, then people in your country, and after that, people in other countries.

Leo spoke in Italian to many people in St. Peter's Square. He shared his ideas for the Church and how people should be together. He said, "We should be a church that helps people connect and is always ready to welcome everyone, just like this square."

Vance said the Catholic Church is more important than politics and social media. He said it is difficult to understand a church that is 2,000 years old if you only think about today's politics. He also said it is better for everyone if the church helps people save their souls.

Steven Millies said that when Trump and Leo became important at the same time, it was like "religion meets culture." He also said that religion and politics do not work well together because they have "different goals."

Millies wrote in an email, "Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting like bishops. They were teaching about God and reminding us that God always helps poor, sick, and sad people." He added, "That is not what Trump does as president, a TV star, or a businessman."

Are Pope Leo's ideas about the world similar to American ideas?

Experts say Leo lived in Peru for many years and is a citizen of both countries. This helps him understand people, power, religion, and politics better.

Leo is expected to use his power in a different way than Trump. For example, he will help the people who need it most first. Trump, on the other hand, stopped giving help from America. In his first speech, Leo did not talk about being from America or speak English. Some people who watch the Vatican think this shows he cares more about the whole world.

It is true that Leo is the first pope from the USA. But it is better to see him as the second pope from the Americas. This idea is different from 'America first'. It sees the Americas as one area, with its main part in the south. Pope Francis thought this way first.

He said this shows a Pope who leads the world by talking to people, not by being alone. He understands power by helping people, not by controlling them. He said it is very different from the current leaders in the U.S.

Some American cardinals said Leo was not very American. They said his American background did not help him become pope. But Trump was very important in the decision.

Six American cardinals who helped choose the new Pope spoke at a press meeting. Loud American music played. They all said that the new Pope, Leo, was not very 'American'. One of them said Leo was 'the least American of the American' cardinals. Some said they thought Leo would help the Pope and the government work together, like a 'bridge-builder'.

When people asked if they chose Leo because of Trump, some said no.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York said: “I don’t think the other cardinals thought he could balance someone else.”

Wilton Gregory said the cardinals knew about things happening in the United States. But he said they wanted to choose someone who could help make their faith stronger.

Millies said: "People around the world should not be afraid of a pope from the US. He is different from other Americans, so he is not affected by our recent politics. He might seem safer because he knows the good parts of our country."

Darlene Superville is a writer for the Associated Press in Washington. She helped write this report.