Right now, Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIII are seen as the most powerful Americans, each having power in different areas.

One new American leader's motto was 'Fight!', while the other introduced himself to the world as pope with his first public word: 'Peace.'

There is a big difference between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV from Chicago. This difference is clear in politics, their personalities, and how they see the world. They have different jobs and work in different areas.

But Leo's important election last week as the first pope from the U.S., who now leads 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, means that the two most powerful people in the world are Americans. This makes people wonder about how much influence America has, especially now that Trump's trade disagreements and strong threats have changed the global order that has been in place for eighty years and made allies trust the U.S. less.

Many people believe that the Catholic Church did not choose an American as pope for almost 250 years because they were worried about the United States having too much power in the world. This changed last week when former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago was chosen to be the new pope, Pope Leo XIV.

According to David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, the paradoxical aspect of Leo's election is that it will likely be interpreted globally as a symbol of optimism, representing an American figure capable of advocating on behalf of others instead of working against them.

Pope Leo represents a distinct kind of American on the global scene.

The first surprise and happiness about the less famous cardinal being chosen 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, which is clear from his "America first" foreign policy. American Catholics chose Trump instead of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

In what seemed to be an attempt to garner support from this group, Trump shared an image crafted by artificial intelligence, depicting him as a pope. This action occurred during the period of mourning for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st, and was met with disapproval from some Catholics and Italians. Trump disclaimed personal responsibility for posting the image, asserting that anyone who took offence lacked a sense of humour. He maintained that "the Catholics found it highly amusing."

Despite this, Trump expressed goodwill towards Leo, describing the new pope's American nationality as a "great honour."

Meanwhile, Pope Leo also exhibits qualities of a politician, possessing a composed demeanor and engaging in discussions with fellow cardinals in intimate gatherings prior to the conclave, according to sources. Despite being born in Chicago, Leo, formerly Prevost, served as a missionary in Peru for two decades before Pope Francis appointed him in 2023 to head the influential Vatican department responsible for evaluating bishops globally.

He wouldn't be the first pope to become involved in global political matters. Pope John Paul II, for instance, is justifiably recognised for contributing to the demise of communism. However, Leo assumes the papacy having previously critiqued Vice President JD Vance, the most prominent Catholic figure in American politics, via social media. Leo is in disagreement with the current administration on policy matters such as immigration, which is a key issue for Trump, and environmental concerns.

Mirroring Trump's focus, Leo has also 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 press freedom. This stance starkly contrasts with Trump's consistently confrontational approach towards journalists, evident from the White House to the judiciary.

Trump and Pope Leo operate within distinct spheres as leaders.

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

This happened just days after Vance, who became a Catholic, talked about immigration in a Fox News interview. He mentioned a Christian idea that you should love your family first, then your neighbor, then your community, then your fellow citizens, and after that, focus on 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 should relate to each other. He said, "We should be a church that works together to build connections and welcome everyone, just like this square is open and welcoming."

Vance proposed that the papacy transcends politics and social media, arguing that it is difficult to confine an institution with a 2,000-year history within the political landscape of 2025 America. He further suggested that it is more beneficial for everyone if the church focuses on its core mission of saving souls.

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

Millies stated in an email that Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting as bishops by teaching the Gospel and reminding people that it always supports the poor, the troubled, and those who are suffering. He added that 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 values?

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

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. 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 in English. Some people who watch the Vatican said this shows his focus on the world.

While 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 as a whole, like Pope Francis did first, focusing on the global south, said Raul Zegarra, an assistant professor of Roman Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School.

This suggests a pontiff who views global leadership as requiring dialogue rather than isolation, and understands authority as deriving from service, not domination," he stated. "The disparity with the present U.S. administration is frankly astonishing."

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. However, Trump's influence was felt during the process.

Six American cardinals who were part of the conclave went on stage at a press conference while "Born in the USA" and "American Pie" played loudly. They then, one by one, played down Leo's American background. One cardinal repeated a popular saying that Leo is "the least American of the American" cardinals. Several said they thought Leo would be a "bridge-builder" with the Trump administration, explaining that the Latin word "pontiff" means this.

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

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

Wilton Gregory, the former archbishop of Washington, said that the cardinals clearly knew about the events 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 a pope from the U.S. In fact, because he is 'the least American of the Americans,' he hasn't been affected by recent U.S. politics. This might make him seem safer, even though he is an American who knows the good parts of this country very well.

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