Many consider Trump and Pope Leo to be among the most influential Americans globally, holding leadership positions in distinct spheres.

One new American leader's saying was "Fight!" The other, the new pope, first said "Peace" to the world.

President Trump and Pope Leo XIV are very different. They have different ideas about politics, their lives, and the world. They are leaders in different places.

Last week, Leo became the new pope. He is the first pope from the United States. Now, the two most important people in the world are American. This makes people think about how much power America has. Also, President Trump has caused problems with trade and made threats. This has changed how countries work together and made America's friends not trust them as much.

Many people thought the Catholic Church didn't choose an American leader for a long time because they didn't want America to be too strong in the world. But last week, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago became the new leader, Pope Leo XIV.

David Gibson said it is strange because people in other countries will think Leo's election is a good thing. They will think he will help them instead of being against them.

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

People were surprised and happy when the cardinal who wasn't famous was chosen. Then, they talked a lot about how two Americans could be at the top of the world.

Trump does not like sharing attention, as his 'America first' idea shows. American Catholics chose Trump instead of Kamala Harris.

Trump put a picture on the internet that looked like him dressed as a pope. He did this when Pope Francis died. Some Catholics and Italians didn't like it. Trump said he didn't put the picture there and that people who didn't like it couldn't understand a joke. He said Catholics liked it.

But Trump said he wished Leo good luck. He also said it was a "great honor" that the new pope was from America.

People said Pope Leo is also like a politician. He is calm, and before the big meeting, he talked to the other important church leaders in small groups. Pope Leo was born in Chicago, but he lived and worked in Peru for twenty years helping people. In 2023, Pope Francis chose him for an important job at the Vatican, where he checks people who want to become bishops around the world.

He is not the first pope to get involved in world politics. For example, Pope John Paul II helped end communism. But Leo became pope after he had already said bad things about Vice President JD Vance, a well-known Catholic politician in America, online. Leo does not agree with the government about things like immigration, which is very important to Trump, and the environment.

Like Trump, Leo is now focused on the media. On Monday in Vatican City, he asked for journalists who are in prison to be freed. He also said it is important for everyone to protect the important gift of free speech and of the press. But Trump's way of dealing with journalists has been aggressive, both at the White House and in court.

Trump and Pope Leo are very different leaders.

In early February, Leo, who was called 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 said that in his religion, you should first care for your family, then people near you, then your town, then people in your country, and after that, think about people in other countries.

Speaking Italian to many people in St. Peter's Square, Leo said the Church and people should be different: "We should be a church that works together to build bridges and be open and friendly, like this square, welcoming everyone."

Vance said the Pope is more important than politics and social media. He said it is hard to put the church's long history into American politics today. He also said it is good for everyone if the church helps people find faith.

Steven Millies, who works at a Catholic center, said that when Trump and Leo became popular at the same time, it was like "religion meeting the world." He also said that religion and politics don't work well together because they want different things.

Millies sent an email and said that Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting like bishops. They taught about the Gospel and said it helps poor people, people who are suffering, and people who have problems. He also said that Trump does not do these things as president, a TV star, or a businessman.

Are Pope Leo's ideas about the world American?

Experts say that because Leo lived in Peru for many years, he understands more about people, power, religion, and politics.

Beyond the clear personality differences with Trump, Leo is expected to use his power in a different way, prioritizing the most vulnerable, unlike Trump who ended American aid. In his first speech, Leo did not mention his American background or speak English, which some Vatican observers interpreted as a sign of his focus on global issues.

Raul Zegarra said that Leo is the first pope from the U.S. But it is better to think of him as the second pope from the Americas. This helps us see the Americas as one big area, like Pope Francis did. This area is most important in the southern part of the world.

He said the pope understands leading the world by talking to people, not by being alone. He understands that power means helping others, not controlling them. He said this is very different from the current leaders in the U.S.

Some American church leaders said Leo wasn't very American in how he acted or thought. They said his American background didn't help much in him becoming pope. But Trump was important in what happened.

Six American church leaders who helped choose the new Pope spoke at a press conference. American songs were playing. They said the new Pope, Leo, was not very American, even though he was born there. One person said others were calling Leo 'the least American of the American' church leaders. Some thought Leo would help connect with the new government. They said this because the word for Pope means 'bridge-builder' in Latin.

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 was against anyone."

Wilton Gregory said the cardinals knew about things that happened in the United States, like things people said and political actions. But he said the group wanted to choose someone who could help make the faith stronger.

Millies said: "People shouldn't be afraid of a pope from the U.S. It's the opposite. He is 'the least American of the Americans.' This means he hasn't been involved in our recent politics and might seem safer. But he is still American and knows the good things about this country very well."

Darlene Superville, a writer for Associated Press in Washington, helped with this report.