Right now, Trump and Pope Leo are arguably the most powerful Americans in the world, even though they have power in different jobs and areas.

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

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 lead in different jobs and areas.

However, Leo's important election last week as the first pope born in the U.S., who now leads the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, means that the two most powerful people in the world are Americans. This makes people wonder about American influence at a time when Trump's trade conflicts and unclear threats have changed the global order that has been in place for eighty years and caused allies to distrust the United States.

Many people believe that the possibility of America having too much power in the world is a reason why the Catholic Church had not chosen an American as Pope in the country's almost 250-year history. This changed last week when the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago, now Pope Leo XIV, was chosen to be the 267th Pope.

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

Pope Leo represents a distinct type of American presence on the international stage.

The first surprise and happiness about the election of the cardinal, who was not very famous, soon changed into a strong discussion about how two Americans could be at the very top of the world's power structure.

Trump does not like sharing attention or being the most important person, which is clear from his 'America first' foreign policy. American Catholics chose Trump instead of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

To appeal to them, Trump shared an AI picture of himself dressed as a pope while people were sad about Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Some Catholics and Italians did not like this. Trump said he did not post the picture and that anyone who was upset 'can't take a joke.' He said that 'the Catholics liked it very much.'

Despite this, Trump wished Leo well and said it was a "great honor" that the new pope was American.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo is also a bit like a politician. He has a calm way of acting and talks to the other cardinals in small groups before the meeting where they choose the new Pope, according to reports. Even though he was born in Chicago, Leo, who was called Prevost then, worked as a missionary in Peru for 20 years. In 2023, Pope Francis chose him to lead the important Vatican office that checks bishops all over the world.

He wouldn’t be the first pope to involve himself in global politics. Pope John Paul II, for example, is justifiably acknowledged for contributing to the collapse of communism. However, Leo assumes the papacy having already publicly disagreed with Vice President JD Vance, the most prominent Catholic figure in American politics, on social media. Leo finds himself in opposition to the administration on policy matters such as immigration – Trump's defining issue – and environmental concerns.

Echoing Trump's focus, Leo has directed his attention towards the media. During a Monday address in Vatican City, 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 stance stands in stark contrast to Trump's confrontational engagement with journalists, evident both within the White House and the judicial system.

Trump and Pope Leo operate within distinct spheres as leaders.

In early February, Leo, who was still known as Prevost at the time, disseminated an article from a Catholic publication titled, “JD Vance is mistaken: Jesus does not expect us to prioritize our affection for others.”

This happened just days after Vance, who became Catholic, talked about immigration on Fox News. He mentioned a Christian idea that you should first love your family, then your neighbor, then your community, and then your fellow citizens, before thinking about the rest of the world.

Speaking in Italian to a large crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Leo shared a different idea for the Church and how people relate to each other: “We should be a church that works together to build connections and stays open, like this piazza, welcoming everyone.”

Vance said the papacy is more important than politics and social media. He told conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt in an interview that it's hard to make a church that is 2,000 years old fit into American politics in 2025. He also said it's better for everyone if the church focuses on helping people find spiritual salvation.

Steven Millies, who is the director of The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, said that when Trump and Leo became important at the same time, "the gospel meets the culture." He also added that religion and politics don't fit together well because they are "focused on different goals."

In an email, Millies said, “Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting as bishops – sharing the Gospel and reminding us that the Gospel is always for the poor, the troubled, and those who are suffering. This is not Trump’s area, whether he is acting as president, a reality TV star, or a businessman.”

To what extent does Pope Leo's perspective align with American values?

Because Leo has lived in Peru for many years and is a citizen of both countries, he has a wider understanding of people, power, religion, and politics, according to experts.

Besides the clear personality differences with Trump, Leo is expected to use power in a different way, helping the people who need it most first, unlike 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.

Raul Zegarra, an assistant professor at Harvard Divinity School, said that while it's true Leo is the first pope born in the U.S., it's better to see him as the second pope from the Americas. He explained that this idea questions 'America first' thinking and sees the whole region together, like Pope Francis did first, focusing on the global south.

"This suggests a pope who comprehends global leadership through communication rather than separation, and perceives power as rooted in service, as opposed to control," he commented. "It is difficult to conceive of a more pronounced difference when compared with the present administration in the U.S."

Some American cardinals say that Leo does not seem very American in how he acts or thinks, and his American background did not really help him become pope. But Trump's presence still affected what happened.

Six American cardinals who were part of the meeting came to a press conference as "Born in the USA" and "American Pie" played loudly. Then, one by one, they said Leo's American background was not that important. One person repeated a phrase that was being used, saying Leo was "the least American of the American" cardinals. Several also said they thought Leo would help connect with the Trump administration, which is what the Latin word "pontiff" means.

When asked if the cardinals chose Leo to balance out Trump, several said no.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said, "I don't think my fellow cardinals would have seen him as someone who balanced out any one person."

Wilton Gregory, the former archbishop of Washington, said the cardinals were certainly aware of what had happened in the United States, including statements and political actions. However, he said the main goal of the meeting was to choose someone who could make the faith stronger.

Millies said that the world shouldn't be afraid of an American pope. 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 this country's best qualities very well.

Darlene Superville of the Associated Press in Washington also contributed to this report.