What It Means to Have an American Pope

The United States is Christian but the Catholics don’t dominate culturally or politically. It has, for instance, in its entire history had just two Presidents—John F Kennedy and Joe Biden from its fold. And yet, it has enough numbers to give it enormous heft and that partly explains why the new Pope, Leo XIV, is an American. There are between 60 million to 70 million Catholics in the US, making it the largest single denomination there. In the world, it is the fourth largest in country-wise count. Ordinarily, the US should be one of the main engines driving Vatican City, yet it is not so.

And the vehicle itself is in some disarray. Its cultural and religious influence is eroding. Numbers are going down in strongholds like Latin America. It is perceived as unable to negotiate modern issues like same sex marriage, abortion and having women in the clergy. Then there is financial strain. The annual budget deficit of Vatican City is over 80 million Euros and going up. There have also been financial scandals and mismanagement. Pope Francis tried to fix them and failed. As the Wall Street Journal wrote, ‘A tiny country of unfathomable riches has been unable to sustain the basic functions of a state without running a perilous deficit.’

An American Pope is one step in bringing the wealthiest and the most influential nation in the world into a wider embrace with the church. Pope Leo XIV could be that lightning rod. It could mean momentum in the US for the church which then translates into other directions.

It wont be easy. He will also have to actively bring the Church’s finances into order, hoping to succeed where his predecessor couldn’t. Within the US itself, the start has been shaky with right wing Americans pulling out his old tweets and accusing him of being a progressive, who is anti-Donald Trump, the US President. But Trump himself sees the elevation of an American to the position as an achievement. He posted on social media, ‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’

He is also not perceived to be as progressive as Pope Francis. He has, for example, spoken earlier about not being in favour of female clergy. He will also have to assuage the political opposition that suddenly seems to have been created because of old tweets. At 69 he, however, has time on his side to mould the Papacy in the form he chooses and leveraging his identity as an American might have a part in it.

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