Will he manage to unite deeply divided American Catholics?

A garland of yellow and white ribbons, in the colors of the Vatican, frames the entrance to the majestic Christ Cathedralat the heart of the Californian diocese of Orange. It has just been installed in honor of the first American pope in history. On the forecourt of the ultra -modern glass building where palm trees, Dolores and his son Salvator are reflected, burst their joy. It was 10:15 am this Thursday, May 8, when they discovered on TV, amazed, the name and the face of Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago, now “Leo XIV” as the Americans call it.

In a world shaken by conflicts, the election of this Pope of Peace is for this faithful a strong sign addressed to Catholics. “For me, it means that it is really time to look at what is important. People, human rights … In the Church, our gaze should be turned to the cross. Now is the time to regroup and think what is good for everyone. ”

This desire for unity strongly resonates in this large multicultural parish, like the County of Orange. Here, the masses are celebrated in Spanish, in Vietnamese and in English, under the gaze of a Mexican virgin of Guadalupe and a statue of Notre-Dame de la Vang, originally from Vietnam. Father Khoi Phan, who arrived alone in this country at 12, is delighted with the unanimity that has emerged, in barely four elections, around Cardinal Prevost. An American pope, of course, but who will be able to speak to the Universal Church. “It is very rooted in South America, where we have 400 million Catholics. It could be the bridge between the north and the south, the east and the west, ”enthuses the priest.

Father Khoi Phan especially hopes that the successor of Peter will instill a wind of harmony within the American Catholic Church. Trump’s brutal return to power only exacerbated the divisions within it between liberals and conservatives – 59 % of Catholics say they voted for the Republican candidate last November, according to The Washington Post . “Our society is so polarized!” regrets the priest. For me, the challenge, as a priest, is to be there, and to preach the truth with love … knowing that if I say something that does not please, I risk alienating a big percentage of the community. Sometimes I really have to be careful. »»

Virulent identities

If many American Catholics are delighted with the election of this pope, voices are raised within the most conservative right to criticize it. On the day of her election, Laura Loomer, a relative of Donald Trump, denounced on the social network X an “anti-Trump” pope, “anti-Maga*”, “for the opening of borders”, “a total Marxist, like Pope Francis”. Attacks in response to messages from Cardinal Prevost criticizing the migration policy of the Trump administration and the vice-president JD Vance, the face of an identity Catholicism.

“JD Vance is mistaken: Jesus does not ask us to prioritize our love for others,” wrote the future Pope, responding to the vice-president according to whom Christians had to “prioritize” charity. This rectification in rule did not prevent Donald Trump, who posted before the conclave a photo of him in false pope on his account X, to congratulate Léon XIV, declaring himself impatient to meet him …

For Father German Sanchez, chaplain of the French -speaking parish of Los Angeles, this pontiff has real “legitimacy” to speak to the president as well as to the American bishops: “He is a man who has a long pastoral experience. He will say what he has to say, with perhaps more diplomacy and tact than François. »»

An episcopate to wake up

Same analysis on the part of William Cavanaugh, theologian and professor at DEPAUL University, in Chicago, who does not see Léon XIV change his mind on a subject such as the reception of migrants. This specialist formulates the vow that François’s successor awakens an American episcopate that is too silent, according to him, on the authoritarian drifts of Donald Trump. Bishops, mainly conservatives, mostly appointed by Jean-Paul II or Benoît XVI, which have long been focused on questions such as abortion. This is why they consider Donald Trump as “an ally, certainly imperfect, but an ally,” he analyzes.

“With the exception of a few bishops who have taken a stand against Donald Trump’s migration policy, the United States Catholic Bishops Conference has remained silent,” he observes. Especially since she herself had to face drastic budget cuts from the Trump administration aimed at her refugee assistance program, with numerous layoffs. I hope that the Catholics anchored to the right of the church will give it a chance. »»

* Make America Great Again (“Rendering America its greatness”), the slogan popularized by D. Trump.