How Pope Francis and the Catholic Church May Navigate a Second Trump Presidency

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Catholic Church faces the challenge of navigating his presidency, particularly given the growing alignment of U.S. Catholic voters with Republican policies. The divergent responses from church leaders following Trump’s victory highlight the complexity of this task.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Conference, appeared untroubled by Trump’s victory, focusing on why Catholic voters shifted toward him. In contrast, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, offered a more measured response, urging Trump to lead inclusively and cautioning against extreme policies on migration—a stark departure from Trump’s proposals for mass deportations.

This tension underscores the differences between Trump and Pope Francis on key issues. While Francis calls driving migrants away a “grave sin,” Trump’s rhetoric and policies often depict migrants as threats. Trump’s isolationist “America First” agenda clashes with the Vatican’s cooperative stance, such as its recent agreement with China on bishop appointments. On climate change, Trump’s skepticism starkly contrasts with Francis’ environmental advocacy.

Despite these divisions, the Vatican is expected to seek common ground, particularly on the war in Ukraine. Both Trump and Francis have expressed a desire for a negotiated peace, offering a potential area of collaboration. However, past diplomatic clashes, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s criticism of the Vatican’s approach to China, suggest potential tensions.

The U.S. Catholic Church, meanwhile, faces its own internal struggles. Catholic voters played a decisive role in Trump’s 2024 victory, shifting from their narrow support for Joe Biden in 2020. Trump secured significant wins in swing states with high Catholic populations, further aligning the church’s conservative wing with his policies.

Pope Francis, however, maintains a distinct approach. While he has spoken out strongly against abortion, he resists framing it as the sole moral issue, emphasizing a broader agenda of inclusion, mercy, and care for marginalized groups. This stance has drawn criticism from conservative factions within the U.S. church, which often overlap with Trump’s supporters.

The church’s leadership now faces a pivotal moment. If Trump enacts policies cutting public funding for Catholic charities or aggressively targets migrants, bishops may be forced to align more closely with Francis’ agenda. At the same time, Trump’s reduced emphasis on abortion during the election has complicated the church’s longstanding alignment with Republican pro-life policies.

David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, suggests that the U.S. Catholic Church faces an “existential crisis,” caught between its historical ties to Republican causes and the broader, more inclusive vision of Pope Francis.

As Secretary of State Antony Blinken bids farewell to Pope Francis on behalf of the outgoing Biden administration, the church enters a new, uncertain era under Trump’s leadership, balancing political, moral, and spiritual priorities in an increasingly polarized America.