Is Robert Prevost a Republican? What We Know

The political views of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, whose birth name is Robert Prevost, have come into question following his election on Thursday.

Why It Matters

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling that at least 89 of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave had elected a successor to Pope Francis. Leo instantly became perhaps the most recognizable and influential living religious figure, holding considerable sway over the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Like his predecessor Francis, Leo will have the ability to reshape the church’s approach to a range of social and political issues. Francis, for instance, made headlines for his focus on climate change and tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community. The issues Leo will emphasize will be seen over the coming years.

What To Know

Speculation grew over the new pope’s beliefs after his papacy was announced around 7 p.m. in Rome, or 1 p.m. ET, on Thursday, about an hour after it became clear a new pope had been chosen.

Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk shared a post to X, formerly Twitter, saying that Leo, who lived in a Chicago suburb, was a “registered Republican.” Illinois, however, does not register voters by political party; when they go to vote in a primary, they state which party’s primary they would like to vote in, according to VoteSmart.

Kirk posted screenshots appearing to show voter registration data for Leo, living in New Lenox, though that information could not be independently verified by Newsweek.

The data, which is not publicly available, suggested he voted in the Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016. It also suggests he did not vote in the 2016 or 2020 general elections but did so in 2024. Whom he voted for is not public information.

Newsweek was able to confirm a Robert Prevost, with the same birthday as the new pope, was registered to vote in New Lenox, but the rest of the data is not publicly available. Voter registration data did not show him with any partisan affiliation.

Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center responded to Kirk’s post: “Illinois has no party registration. This merely means he cast a Republican ballot in the last party primary.”

There have been other signals about Leo’s political views. Observers have turned to his social media presence for hints about where he stands on key issues like abortion and immigration.

For instance, his account on X shared an article by the National Catholic Reporter criticizing Vice President JD Vance.

In April, Leo also reshared a post appearing to criticize President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. It’s not the first time his posts have leaned against Trump’s immigration views. In January 2017, he shared several posts against Trump’s refugee ban during his first term in office.

On the other hand, the new pope was also reported by The New York Times as saying in 2012 that pop culture created “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.” In the speech to bishops, he referenced the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.”

He’s also shared posts opposing abortion rights on X, including an article about former Vice President Mike Pence’s view on abortion.

What People Are Saying

Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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!

Father Robert Hagan, Leo’s friend, said on CNN: “Pope Leo represents all that is good about being an American. To work for the freedom and the justice and the opportunity for all people. The core values upon which this country was founded. To leave some of the other things behind and to be an instrument, a promoter of all things good for the common good. For people on the margins. For the poor. These are the values that Pope Leo has lived.”

French President Emanuel Macron wrote on X: “A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity. On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope.”

What Happens Next

Leo’s authority began immediately upon his election, which sparked celebration among Catholics around the globe.