JD Vance has expressed his backing for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, even though the pontiff has been a long-time critic of Trump policies and has previously criticized Vance’s views on religion.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American to ascend as Holy Father, had previously circulated articles critical of fellow Catholic Vance just months prior to his election to lead the worldwide church.

On Thursday evening, a jubilant cheer erupted from a crowd of pilgrims as white smoke rose from the Vatican, signaling the election of the new holy leader.

Several tense moments later, parishioners looked up in shock as Prevost emerged from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and said, “Peace be with you.”

Prevost, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, has made history as the first American Pope.

Throughout the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, Americans had often been passed up for the job because of the country’s established global prominence.

However, Prevost, 69, was a unique choice as he was a naturalized citizen of Peru, where he served as a seminary leader and apostolic administrator.

In recent years, Prevost has become indispensable to the Vatican. In 2023, Pope Francis hand-selected him to head the office that vets global bishops.

That position elevated him above other cardinals considered to head the church, making him an easier choice.

Also in recent years, Prevost has kept up an intriguing internet presence, where he often appeared to share his true thoughts on Donald Trump’s second presidency.

His latest repost on X was a critique of Trump’s immigration crackdown from Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo.

In the post, Palmo quoted, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”

And just a few posts before this, Prevost boldly shared a spate of articles questioning statements made by Vance, who converted to Catholicism throughout his 30s.

One article was an opinion piece with the headline “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”

And the other was an article criticizing Vance after Pope Francis penned a letter to American bishops and encouraged them to support illegal immigrants being targeted by the crackdown.

But despite these glaring signs of apparent mistrust of their administration, Vance and Trump have both sent their well-wishes to the new leader.

In a post on X, Vance wrote, “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election!

“I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”

And before that, Trump took to Truth Social to say, “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,” he wrote.

“It will be a very meaningful moment!”

‘SUCH AN HONOR’

Trump revealed that the Vatican had already called him following Prevost’s election and stressed that it was a “great honor” for America to be represented in the papacy.

“To have the Pope from the United States of America, that’s a great honor,” he told reporters.

“I’m watching it and they say, ‘He’s from America,’ I said, ‘That’s great!'”