Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, social media has exploded with Christians (mostly non-Catholics) claiming that the new pontiff is “woke.” The chief source for these claims would seem to be a handful of X (formerly Twitter) posts either written or reposted by the new pope over the past several years, criticizing President Donald Trump and Catholic convert and Vice President J.D. Vance and their immigration agenda. However, subsequent claims that Pope Leo XIV is a woke, open-borders globalist is plainly refuted — by the new pope himself.

In a homily while still Cardinal Robert Prevost, the successor of St. Peter explicitly condemned mass migration as a “huge problem,” affirming that illegal immigration and open borders are in no way compatible with the teachings of the Catholic Church. He simply advocated — again, in keeping with Catholic social and moral teaching — “There’s got to be a way both to solve the problem, but also to treat people with respect.”
Another grudge held against Pope Leo XIV — less than three days into his pontificate, mind you — is his seeming proximity to the views of the late Pope Francis. By all accounts, Leo XIV is aligned with Francis on a number of matters, such as “synodality” and ecological concerns.
But it is crucial to note the difference in temperament between the two men. Where Francis had a tendency of speaking off-the-cuff, sowing confusion and hurt with his lack of clarity and care, Leo XIV has already proven himself to be far more careful and considerate in communication. He reads from prepared notes, for example, and has already indicated that he intends “to reserve for himself a period of reflection, prayer, and dialogue before making any definitive appointments or confirmations” to Vatican curial positions. No doubt influenced by his history as a canonist and a mathematician, the new pontiff seems to weigh his words and actions carefully, recognizing the gravity of his office and the force which the pontiff wields.
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