Pope Leo fielded questions from reporters as he made his way through the crowd at the Vatican during his first international press conference.
During the exchange, the pontiff spoke about the vital role of free speech and a free press, thanking journalists for their coverage of the papal election. He also stressed the importance of an informed society, noting that public awareness is essential for making sound decisions on international policy, according to NewsNation.
At one point, NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman asked Pope Leo whether he had “any message” for the United States. The Pope responded simply, “Many,” before adding, “God bless you all.”
The brief reply quickly drew widespread attention online, with many interpreting it as a pointed or even ominous message toward the U.S. The clip spread rapidly across social media, sparking debate and speculation.
Some observers viewed the comment as a subtle criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Pope Leo had previously criticized on social media while serving as Cardinal Robert Prevost.
In 2015, after Trump announced his presidential campaign and pledged to “build a wall,” Cardinal Prevost reshared an opinion piece titled “Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.”
Pope Leo had also taken issue with comments made by Senator JD Vance during a Fox News interview discussing Christianity and immigration.
“JD Vance is wrong,” he said at the time. “Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
Vance had argued that Christian teachings prioritize love in a specific order — beginning with family, then neighbors, community, fellow citizens, and finally the broader world — while defending the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Following criticism, Vance defended his position on social media, writing, “Just google ‘ordo amoris.’ Aside from that, the idea that there isn’t a hierarchy of obligations violates basic common sense.”
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Ten days later, Cardinal Prevost shared an article from a Jesuit publication titled, “Pope Francis’ letter, JD Vance’s ‘ordo amoris’ and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration.”
According to the Daily Mail, some have suggested that Pope Leo may have misunderstood the reporter’s question, speculating that it may have been about offering “any blessings for the United States.” This interpretation, they argue, aligns more closely with his closing remark: “God bless you all.”
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