Trump and Pope Leo are now the most powerful Americans on Earth. They are leaders in different jobs and areas.

One new American leader's motto is "Fight!", while the new pope's first word to the world was "Peace."

President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, are very different in politics, as people, and in what they believe about the world. They have different jobs and work in different areas.

When Leo, the first US-born pope, was elected, it meant that two of the world's most powerful people were American. This makes people wonder about how much influence America has, especially because President Trump's actions have caused problems with other countries and made allies distrust the US.

Many people believed the Catholic Church didn't choose an American as Pope for nearly 250 years because they were concerned about the United States having too much influence in global affairs. However, recently, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost from Chicago, was selected as the 267th Pope.

David Gibson, who is the director of Fordham University's Center on Religion and Culture, said it's interesting 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 working against them.

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

People were surprised and happy when the less famous cardinal was chosen, but soon they started talking a lot about how two Americans could be in charge globally.

People say that Trump does not like to share attention or be the most important person. His 'America first' foreign policy shows this.

Trump seemed to try to please some people by sharing a picture created by AI. In this picture, he looked like a pope. He posted this during the time people were sad about Pope Francis dying on April 21. Some Catholics and Italians were not happy about this. Trump said he didn't post the picture and that people who were upset didn't understand a joke. He strongly believed that "the Catholics enjoyed it."

Even so, Trump said he wished Leo well and felt it was a "great honor" that the new pope was American.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo acts somewhat like a politician. He is calm and, they said, he talked to his fellow cardinals in small groups before the meeting to choose the next Pope. Although he was born in Chicago, Leo (whose name was Prevost then) worked as a missionary in Peru for twenty years. In 2023, Pope Francis chose him to be in charge of an important Vatican department that examines bishops all over the world.

He wouldn't be the first pope to get involved in world politics. For example, Pope John Paul II is known for helping to end communism. But Leo becomes pope after he had already criticized Vice President JD Vance, the most well-known Catholic in American politics, on social media. Leo disagrees with the government on important topics like immigration and the environment.

Like Trump, Leo is now focusing on the media. On Monday in Vatican City, he requested that journalists who are in prison be let go. He also stated that it is important for everyone to protect the valuable gift of free speech and a free press. On the other hand, Trump has been aggressive in how he deals with journalists, both in the White House and in the courts.

Trump and Pope Leo operate in distinct spheres of influence as leaders.

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

This happened a few days after Vance, who became Catholic, spoke about immigration on Fox News. He mentioned a Christian belief that you should love your family first, then your neighbor, then your community, then your fellow citizens, and after that, people in other countries.

Speaking in Italian to a big crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Leo talked about a different idea for the Church and how people should relate to each other: “We should be a church that brings people together and is always ready to welcome them, like this square itself.”

Vance said the Pope's position is more important than politics and social media. He explained that it's difficult to make an institution that is 2,000 years old fit into American politics today. He also said it's better if we let the church focus on helping people find salvation.

Steven Millies said that when Trump and Leo became popular at the same time, it showed how religious beliefs meet society. He also said that religion and politics don't work well together because they have different goals.

Millies wrote that Francis and Cardinal Prevost were acting like bishops. They were teaching the Gospel and reminding people that the Gospel always helps the poor, the sick, and those who are suffering. He added that this is not what a president, TV star, or businessman like Trump usually does.

How American are Pope Leo's ideas about the world?

Experts say that because Leo has lived in Peru for many years and is a citizen of both countries, he can understand humanity, power, religion, and politics in a wider way.

Apart from clear differences in personality with Trump, people expect Leo to use power in a different way – helping the poorest people first, unlike Trump who stopped American aid. During his first speech, Leo did not talk about his American background or speak in English. Some experts on the Vatican said this shows he cares more about the world than just one country.

Raul Zegarra said that 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, after Pope Francis. He added that this way of thinking is different from the 'America first' idea and looks at the whole region, especially the countries in the global south.

This shows a pope who thinks global leaders should talk to each other, not stay separate. He believes power is about helping others, not controlling them,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine a bigger difference compared to the current government in the U.S.

Some American cardinals said Leo did not seem very American in his style or ideas. They said his American background did not affect his selection as pope much. But Trump was present during the meeting.

Six American cardinals who were in the meeting spoke at a press conference with loud music playing. One after another, they said Leo was not very American. One cardinal repeated a popular phrase, saying Leo was "the least American of the American" cardinals. Several of them said they believed Leo would help connect with the Trump government, explaining that the Latin word "pontiff" means "bridge-builder."

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

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said, "I don't think the other cardinals would have seen him as a way to balance anyone else."

"Of course, the cardinals knew about events in the United States, like statements and political actions," said Wilton Gregory, the retired archbishop of Washington. But, he said, the meeting's goal was to choose someone who could make the faith stronger.

Millies said: "People shouldn't be afraid of a pope from the U.S. Actually, it's the opposite: Because he's not like most Americans, he hasn't been affected by our recent politics and might seem safer. But he is still an American who knows the good things about this country."

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