“God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest,” Leo wrote. "Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people."
Leo has echoed his predecessor Pope Francis, who angered conservatives and wealthy Catholics by frequently criticizing capitalism, and he said in a recent interview that his being American gives him unique insight into the topic.
“The fact that I am American means, among other things, people can’t say, like they did about Francis, ‘he doesn’t understand the United States, he just doesn’t see what’s going on,’” Leo told Crux, a Catholic site.
Leo's new papal document is based on an unfinished text started by Francis and singles out Christians who embrace “secular ideologies or political and economic approaches that lead to gross generalizations and mistaken conclusions."
“The fact that some dismiss or ridicule charitable works, as if they were an obsession on the part of a few and not the burning heart of the church’s mission, convinces me of the need to go back and reread the Gospel, lest we risk replacing it with the wisdom of this world,” Leo wrote.
The pope infuriated conservatives with his response to a question about the archdiocese of his hometown of Chicago, which rescinded a lifetime achievement award to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) for his work on immigration due to controversy on his support for abortion rights, and Leo said people cannot call themselves “pro-life” if they stand against abortion but endorse “inhuman treatment” of migrants or support the death penalty.
“He weighs into the abortion question through remarks that are absolutely scandalous,” said John-Henry Westen, founder of the conservative-Catholic Sign of the Cross Media last week on a podcast. "He actually says if you call yourself pro-life and you’re in favor of the death penalty you’re not really pro-life.”
A priest in a conservative parish in North Carolina told the Washington Post that many of his traditionalist parishioners were “concerned” about Leo’s views on migrants.
“I can say that my parishioners are saying something along the lines, of ‘why doesn’t he just focus on the church,'” the priest said. “I think people here generally think that the Holy Father, or anyone outside the United States, doesn’t understand what immigration looks like in the United States on the day-to-day ground level. They think he doesn’t fully understand the scope of it. Even he has walls in Vatican City.”
The pope's statements were widely seen on social media as a condemnation of American conservatism.
"Oh, he’s not messing," said attorney Tim O'Connor. "This is a straight challenge to MAGA."
"Pope Leo Invokes Criticism of Trump's Policies in 1st Major Document," agreed Newsmax's Logan Ratick.
"It is simply another Woke-Liberal-Socialist manifesto that will continue to lead the Faithful astray!" complained "Bishop" Christopher Richard, self-described priest of the "Old Catholic Church." "Leo XIV = Francis 2.0!"
"MAGA: The pope has no business spouting this woke antifa rhetoric taken straight from the New Testament!" posted writer Bill Shea.
"'Shut up and sprinkle incense,'" joked Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch.
"The Catholic Church: famously known for staying out of politics and state affairs," replied academic Siobhán McElduff.
"Stand with whomever you like, Woke Pope Leo," snarled X user Heather Langford. "Many of these illegal migrants raping, torturing, slaughtering our own people. It is captured on camera for evidence. God will not be impressed with your spiritual leadership. Or your bleeding heart. With mayhem around you."
