Trump and the Pope hold significant positions in the United States, leading in distinct capacities and spheres.

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

President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV from Chicago are very different people. They have different ideas about politics, life, and the world. They are leaders in different areas.

Last week, Leo became the new leader of Catholics around the world. He is from the U.S. This means the two most important people in the world are now Americans. This makes people think about how much power America has. This is because of Trump's trade problems and threats. These things have changed how countries work together and made some countries that were friends with the U.S. not trust it as much.

Many people thought the Catholic Church did not choose an American pope for a long time. Maybe they were worried about America being too strong in the world. But last week, they chose Pope Leo XIV. He used to be Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago.

David Gibson said that many people in other countries will see Leo's election as a good sign. They hope he will speak for them and not act against them.

Pope Leo is a different kind of American in the world.

People were surprised and happy when the cardinal who was not very famous became pope. Then, they talked a lot about how two Americans could be the most important religious leaders in the world.

Trump does not like to share attention. His plan for other countries, 'America first,' shows this. American Catholics chose Trump instead of Kamala Harris.

Trump put a picture online that a computer made. It showed him dressed like a pope after Pope Francis died. Some Catholics and Italians were not happy about this. Trump said he did not put the picture online. He also said that people who were upset did not understand a joke. He said that Catholics liked the picture.

But Trump told Leo he hoped he would do well and said it was a "great honor" because the new pope was from America.

They said Pope Leo is also a bit like a politician. He is calm and talked to the other important church leaders in small groups before they voted. He was born in America, but he worked in Peru for 20 years helping people. Then, in 2023, the Pope chose him to work in an important church office that checks important church leaders around the world.

He is not the first pope to get involved in world politics.

Like Trump, Leo is now looking at the media.

Trump and Pope Leo are leaders, but they do things in very different ways.

In early February, Leo, whose name was Prevost at that time, 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 Catholic, talked about people coming to the country on TV. He used a Christian idea: first you love your family, then your neighbor, then your community, then your country, and after that, you think about people in other countries.

Speaking Italian to many people in St. Peter's Square, Leo said the Church should be different. He said, "We should be a church that helps people connect and is always open, like this square, and welcomes everyone."

Vance said the Pope's job is more important than politics and social media. He said it is hard to put a church that is 2,000 years old into American politics today. He thinks it is best if the church helps people find their faith.

Steven Millies said that when Trump and Leo became popular at the same time, it showed how religion and culture were mixing. He also said that religion and politics don't fit well together because they want different things.

Millies wrote that Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting like bishops. They taught about the Gospel and said it always helps poor and suffering people. Millies added that this is not what Trump does as a president, TV star, or businessman.

Are Pope Leo's ideas about the world very American?

Experts say that because Leo lived in Peru for many years and is also a citizen there, he understands people, power, religion, and politics better.

People think Leo will use his power differently than Trump because they are very different. For example, Leo will help the poorest people first, but Trump stopped American help. In his first speech, Leo did not talk about being American or speak English. Some people who watch the Vatican said this shows he cares about the whole world.

Raul Zegarra said that Leo is the first pope born in the U.S. But it is better to think of him as the second pope from the Americas. This is like Pope Francis, who saw the whole area, with its main focus in the south.

He said, "This pope leads the world by talking to people, not by being alone. He believes power means helping others, not controlling them." He also said, "This is very different from the current leaders in the U.S."

Some American cardinals say Leo is not very American. They say his American background did not help him become pope. But Trump was important in what happened.

Six American cardinals who chose the new Pope met with reporters. Loud American music played. The cardinals said Leo was not very American. One cardinal said a popular idea: that Leo was 'the least American of the American' cardinals. Some said they thought Leo would help connect with the Trump government, like a bridge. They said this because 'pontiff' means bridge-builder in Latin.

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

Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York said, 'I don't think the other cardinals thought he was against anyone.'

The church leaders knew about things that happened in the United States, like statements and political actions. That's what Wilton Gregory, a main church leader in Washington, said. But he said the meeting was about choosing someone who could help people believe more.

Millies said: "People should not be afraid of a pope from the U.S. It is the opposite. He is 'the least American of the Americans,' so recent U.S. politics have not changed him. He might seem safer, but he is still American and knows the good things about this country very well."

Darlene Superville, who is a writer for The Associated Press in Washington, helped write this report.