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Under Pope Francis, the Church became increasingly political—much to the frustration of traditional Catholics. From repeated sermons about climate change to calls for mass migration into Western countries, Francis became a darling of the global Left. And now, many fear Pope Leo XIV will double down on those same themes.
Francis even went so far as to describe the upcoming 2024 presidential election between Trump and Kamala Harris as a “choice between lesser evils,” criticizing Harris for her pro-abortion stance but attacking Trump for his strong position on border security and illegal immigration.
In that light, Leo XIV’s online history seems less like an anomaly and more like the continuation of a disturbing trend within the Vatican.
Not everyone is ready to hit the panic button. Megyn Kelly, a devout Catholic and longtime media voice, took a more measured approach. In a conversation with commentator Link Lauren, Kelly acknowledged the Pope’s pro-migration views—but insisted they fall in line with centuries of Catholic teaching.
“I think there’s not going to be a pope who’s not pro-mass migration. It’s Catholicism. I mean, that’s Catholic. They’re very pro-migrant, you know, wash the feet of the poor and the hungry and those who need us. And, you, know, we’re a bunch of bleeding hearts at, you know, bottom. Unless if you’re trans or gay, in which case, no, sorry, Link, they love gays and lesbians. They just don’t want them to get married,” Kelly declared.
It’s a raw, honest assessment of the Church’s sometimes contradictory stances—but Kelly believes Pope Leo may still surprise critics.
One area where Leo XIV appears more aligned with conservative values is on gender ideology. Prior to becoming Pope, Leo spoke out strongly against the idea of children undergoing gender transition procedures—an issue that has galvanized many Catholic and evangelical voters alike.
Kelly highlighted this, noting that while she’s not thrilled about the Church’s open-arms approach to mass migration, Leo’s stance on gender issues could indicate a more balanced papacy than many are assuming.
“So It’s great to see an American pope. And I actually am open-minded to this pope, notwithstanding those tweets,” Kelly continued. “I really think even a conservative-leaning pope could have sent out those tweets because I’m sorry, the Catholic Church is very pro immigration. It’s not my favorite thing, but it’s the truth.”
The Catholic Church finds itself at a crossroads. After years of left-leaning leadership under Pope Francis, conservative Catholics were hoping for a return to orthodoxy and tradition. Instead, they now face another pontiff who, at least on the surface, appears to embrace similar political positions—especially on immigration.
Still, some like Megyn Kelly are encouraging the faithful not to write off Pope Leo XIV just yet. His past remarks on gender, his status as the first American Pope, and the unknowns that come with new leadership leave a door open for hope.
But one thing is certain: the relationship between the Vatican and Trump-era conservatives just got even more complicated.
