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Vatican Conclave Cardinals Pope Francis

Vatican Conclave Cardinals Pope Francis: Will the Next Pope Clash with Trump’s Global Vision?

Vatican Conclave Cardinals Pope Francis: Will the Next Pope Clash with Trump’s Global Vision?

By JV Charles, Senior Editor at JV Political | May 8, 2025

Over 130 cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel right now, figuring out who’s going to be the next pope. It’s the Vatican conclave, and I’m totally glued to this story.
We lost Pope Francis last month, and his passing left a big void. He was the kind of leader who didn’t shy away from taking on the world’s biggest issues—think climate change, migrants, and social justice. Now, the cardinals he picked are in charge of choosing his successor, and I can’t stop thinking about what this means for someone likeDonald Trump. Francis and Trump never really saw eye to eye, and with the way things are shaping up, the next pope might just keep that tension alive. As someone who’s always chasing the next big political story, I’m here to break down how this Vatican conclave, these cardinals, and Pope Francis’ legacy might set the stage for a major showdown with Trump’s global vision.

The Conclave: A Secretive Power Play

The Vatican conclave is like something out of a movie. You’ve got 133 cardinals, all decked out in red, sealed off from the world, voting under those incredible Sistine Chapel frescoes. They’re not allowed to talk to anyone outside—no phones, no internet, nothing—until they’ve picked a new pope. It’s all hush-hush, with smoke signals as the only way we know what’s going on: black for “nope, not yet,” and white for “we’ve got a new pope.” But let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t just a spiritual thing. It’s a power play, plain and simple.
What’s wild is that Pope Francis picked most of these cardinals—108 of the 135 who can vote, to be exact. He went out of his way to bring in voices from places like Haiti, Rwanda, and even Mongolia, making this conclave less European than ever before. I think that’s amazing, but it’s also stirring up some serious drama. Some cardinals want to keep pushing Francis’ big ideas, like caring for the planet and welcoming refugees. Others, especially the more traditional ones, want to dial it back and focus on old-school Catholic teachings. I’ve been keeping an eye on social media, and American conservatives are really vocal right now. Some of them, like a group called Catholics for Catholics, are hoping for a pope who’ll back Trump’s priorities—stuff like tight borders and family values. They even held a pricey prayer event for Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, claiming over half of Catholics voted for him. But with Francis’ appointees running the show, I’m not so sure that’s going to happen.
“This Vatican conclave isn’t just about picking a pope—it’s about who gets to steer the Church’s influence on the world stage.”

https://youtu.be/FMW7H_1hmEg?si=K8QW9PSd6-l0w6uc

Francis and Trump: A Rocky History

If you followed Pope Francis at all, you know he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, especially when it came to Trump. Back in 2016, Francis made headlines when he said building walls wasn’t Christian—everyone knew he was talking about Trump’s plan for a border wall with Mexico. It was a bold move, and Trump didn’t take it lightly. Francis also went hard on climate change, writing a big letter in 2015 called Laudato Si’ that basically said we’re all responsible for taking care of the Earth. That letter helped push a lot of countries toward the Paris climate deal, which Trump famously pulled the U.S. out of. Francis was all about bringing people together—open borders, saving the planet, showing mercy. Trump, on the other hand, is all about America First—tough borders, fossil fuels, and putting U.S. interests above everything else.
I keep thinking about how these two visions are like oil and water. With the cardinals in this Vatican conclave mostly being Francis’ picks, I can’t help but wonder if the next pope will keep that same energy. What if we get a new pope who stands up in St. Peter’s Square and calls out Trump’s policies? That’d be a global spectacle, and I’d be refreshing my feeds to catch every second of it. The tension between the Vatican and the White House could get real, and I’m curious to see how it plays out.

Migration: A Big Point of Conflict

One area where the next pope could really stir things up is migration. Francis was passionate about this—he traveled to refugee camps, met with migrants, and even brought some back to the Vatican to make a point. I remember reading about his trip to Lesbos, Greece, years ago, and it stuck with me. He was basically saying, “We can’t turn our backs on these people.” That put him at odds with Trump, who’s been all about tightening borders and building walls. If the cardinals pick someone who shares Francis’ heart—like maybe Cardinal Luis Tagle from the Philippines, who’s known for his compassion—we could see the Vatican keep pushing for migrant rights.
That’d be a big deal in the U.S., where Catholic voters, especially Latinos, can swing elections in key states. But there’s another side to this. Some cardinals, like Raymond Burke from the U.S., are more in line with Trump’s views. Burke’s been critical of Francis for years, saying the Church should focus on traditional teachings, not social issues. If the conclave goes his way, Trump might actually get a friend in the Vatican. Still, with so many of Francis’ appointees in the room, I’m leaning toward a pope who’ll keep migration on the front burner. That could mean some serious friction with Trump’s plans, and I’m ready to watch it unfold.

Little Tidbit

Francis once brought 12 refugees back to the Vatican after a trip to Greece in 2016—a move that made global headlines and irked anti-immigration leaders.

Climate Change: Another Battleground

Then there’s climate change, which could be another sticking point. Francis made it a moral issue, saying we’re all on the hook for protecting the planet. His Laudato Si’ letter got Catholic countries like Brazil and the Philippines talking about going green, even if they didn’t always follow through. Trump, though, has been skeptical of climate change, calling it a “hoax” and focusing on oil and gas to boost the U.S. economy. That’s put him at odds with the Vatican’s push for sustainability.
I’ve seen some American Catholics online saying the Church should stick to spiritual stuff, not climate activism. But with the cardinals in this Vatican conclave mostly being Francis’ choices, I think we might get a pope who keeps that fight alive. A pope who speaks out on climate could put pressure on the U.S. to rethink its stance, especially if Catholic voters start paying attention. It’s like a tug-of-war between two totally different worldviews, and I’m curious to see who’ll come out on top.

Trump’s Already Stirring the Pot

Trump’s not sitting quietly while all this goes down. He’s already caused a stir by posting a fake image of himself dressed as a pope on his social media. I saw it and couldn’t believe it—some people thought it was funny, but others were not happy. A Catholic group in New York called it “deeply offensive,” especially since we’re still grieving Francis. Trump also said he thinks Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York would make a great pope, but most people I’ve read up on say Dolan’s not a serious contender. It feels like Trump’s trying to throw his weight around, but I’m not sure the cardinals are going to care what he thinks—especially the ones from outside the U.S.
Trump’s supporters might love his boldness, but if the cardinals pick a pope who’s ready to push back, it could be a real headache for him. A pope speaking out against U.S. policies on the global stage would definitely get people talking, and it might even sway some Catholic voters. The Vatican conclave, the cardinals, and Pope Francis’ legacy are setting up a story that’s got me hooked.

What’s Next for the Vatican and Trump?

We’re all waiting for that white smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel, letting us know the cardinals have made their choice. Whoever the next pope is, they’re going to have a big impact—not just on the Church, but on the world. Francis’ legacy of speaking up for the planet, for migrants, and for justice might carry on, and that could mean a direct challenge to Trump’s global vision. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for every update, and you can bet JV Political will be covering this story as it unfolds. This is one of those moments where faith and politics collide, and I’m not missing a second of it.

What Do You Think?

So, what’s your take? Do you think the Vatican conclave, cardinals, and Pope Francis’ legacy will lead to a pope who takes on Trump, or will they pick someone who plays nice? How do you see this playing out on the world stage? I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop them in the comments below. And if you’re as fascinated by these kinds of global power clashes as I am, make sure to subscribe to JV Political for more stories like this one.

REFRENCES

Vatican Press Release: Details on the number of cardinals and their backgrounds were sourced from a press release on the official Vatican website, vatican.va, published in May 2025.

NBC News Article: The statistic about Pope Francis appointing 108 of the voting cardinals was mentioned in an NBC News article from April 2025.

Catholics for Catholics Website: Information about the Catholics for Catholics event at Mar-a-Lago and their claim that 56% of Catholic voters supported Trump was taken from their official website, catholicsforcatholics.us.

The Guardian Archives: Pope Francis’ 2016 comments on building walls and his trip to Lesbos were verified using archived articles from The Guardian.

The New York Times: Trump’s AI-generated image of himself as pope and the reaction from the New York State Catholic Conference were reported in an article by The New York Times from the week prior to May 8, 2025.

America Magazine: Background information on Cardinal Luis Tagle and Cardinal Raymond Burke was sourced from profiles published in America magazine over the years.

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