The morning after his election, Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV and the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history — presided over his first Mass.

In a nod to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, Leo pledged to align himself with «ordinary people» and pointed to a loss of religious faith for contributing to «appalling violations of human dignity.»

«A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,» the new pope said in his homily delivered at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Thursday. 

However, the message from the pope – who, like his predecessor, appears to hail from the more inclusive and progressive wing of the Catholic Church – does not appear to be receptive to some in the «America First» movement.

FIRST AMERICAN-BORN POPE INSPIRES FAITH LEADERS ACROSS THE NATION

The founder and leader of the movement, President Donald Trump, on Thursday quickly praised the selection of Leo, who was Chicago-born but has lived much of his adult life in Peru.

«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!» Trump wrote in a social media post.

Additionally, Vice President JD Vance, only the second Catholic vice president in U.S. history, congratulated the new pope, adding, «I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!»

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS FIRST AMERICAN POPE LEO XIV AN ‘HONOR’ FOR US, ‘VERY HAPPY’

However, thanks to a paper trail of weighing in on major American lighting rod issues such as illegal immigration, gun control, and even the 2020 death of George Floyd – which sparked nationwide protests targeting police brutality towards minorities – the new pope was bound to be controversial among some of Trump’s millions of MAGA supporters.

Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist in Trump’s first administration and a conservative Catholic, wrote, «Worst pick ever,» in responding on social media to the new pope’s election.

That sentiment from Bannon, and much harsher words from some far-right podcasters and social media influencers, was likely fueled in part by apparent past posts from the new pope – which could not be independently verified by Fox News – that were critical of the Trump administration’s sweeping and controversial immigration policies.

Pope Francis, days before his death, meets with Vice President JD Vance, left, and his delegation during an audience at Casa Santa Marta on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Pro-Trump conservative commentator Joey Mannarino took to X to charge that «the new Pope has recently attacked JD Vance, shown solidarity with Kilmar Abrego-Garcia and begged Trump to open the borders like Biden had them. This guy is worse than Francis.»

LIVE UPDATES: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

However, influential conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, a MAGA world rock star and Trump ally who leads the powerful Turning Point USA youth organization, was more measured.

«Let’s just say, not so great tweets about having some willingness for open borders. We’ll see kind of how he is on that. Also some George Floyd stuff that I’m not too crazy about,» Kirk said in a video posted on X.

Kirk added that «overall, it seems like he’s a pro-life warrior. There’s a lot yet to learn about this pope, but I hope that he will be a strong advocate for strong borders. And for sovereignty.»

Popular conservative commentator and radio host Hugh Hewitt seemed receptive to the new pope.

Trump has warmly embraced American Catholics in recent years and captured nearly 60% of the Catholic vote in last year’s presidential election, according to a Fox News voter analysis. Four years earlier, former President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, narrowly captured the Catholic vote.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend Pope Francis’ funeral on April 28, 2025 at the Vatican. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Among those Catholics who supported Trump is former New Hampshire state House Speaker Bill O’Brien, who is one of the state’s two members on the Republican National Committee.

O’Brien told Fox News that he’s «very respectful of the votes of the conclave, and I’m also proud that we do have a pope from America.»

«I certainly would have liked to have seen someone more in the tradition of Pope Benedict, who held more closely to the traditional doctrines of the church,» O’Brien said. «But I’m not sure that Pope Leo is really established now in terms of where he will be. And the fact that he criticized Trump, I suppose that probably shows a less than developed political sense than it does a doctoral sense, which is more important.»

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O’Brien noted that «any pope, any religious figure for that matter, is going to be concerned about those who are powerless in our society, and rightfully so, but that doesn’t mean he’s given intense thought to the importance of national borders.»

He additionally emphasized that «I’m thrilled about where he comes from, and I’m hopeful about where he’s going.»

El rol del Espíritu Santo

El Cardenal Jean-Paul Vesco junto a la gente en Plaza San Pedro. Foto: EFE

Espíritu de equipo

Papa León XIV saluda a los fieles tras su elección.

Cena italiana con el Papa

El clima del cónclave

La gente se abraza al ver el humo blanco. Foto: Reuters

La visión del cardenal Bustillo

Cardenal François-Xavier Bustillo. Foto: AP

El Cónclave, según cifras británicas

Los cardenales juran un voto de silencio antes de votar. Foto: AP

Qué pasó con los papables africanos y asiáticos

Chinese President Xi Jinping was photographed standing next to Vladimir Putin on Friday as thousands of Russian troops and military vehicles rumbled through Moscow’s Red Square during the country’s annual Victory Day parade. 

The event, marking Russia’s 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, including tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery used on the battlefield in Ukraine. Drones that Russia has deployed in the war were also on display, according to Reuters.

«We are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory,» Putin said about the Russian troops fighting in the war. 

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot canceled more than 100 flights to and from Moscow and delayed over 140 others on Wednesday as the military were repelling repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital. 

CHINA’S XI STANDS WITH PUTIN AGAINST ‘INTERNATIONAL BULLYING’ AMID TRUMP TRADE WAR 

Ukrainian authorities also reported scores of Russian strikes on Friday that killed at least two people in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and damaged buildings. 

The strikes in Ukraine came despite Putin declaring a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine last month ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. 

«All military actions are suspended for this period,» the Kremlin said in a statement at the time, noting that the ceasefire would run through the end of Saturday, May 10. «Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.» 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with President Donald Trump on Thursday, who «confirmed that he wants this war to end, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire.» 

Zelenskyy said he informed Trump that «Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, starting even today. We are waiting for Russia to support this proposal. I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks in any format. But for that, Russia must demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire.» 

BIDEN BLASTS TRUMP AS ‘FOOLISH’ APPEASER OF RUSSIA, SAYS FIRST 100 DAYS WERE NO TRIUMPH 

Russian military vehicles roll in Red square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on Friday, May 9.  (Vladimir Astapkovich/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Prior to the parade, Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks and an informal chat about the conflict, the BBC reported, citing Chinese media.  

Among the other world leaders to attend Friday were Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was the only European Union leader to head to Moscow, according to the BBC. 

The outlet also reported that Chinese troops and contingents of soldiers from North Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia marched through Red Square. 

Afterward, Putin shook hands with Russian military officers who led the troops on Red Square and spoke to a group of senior North Korean officers who watched the parade, hugging one of them. 

Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade. (Evgeny Biyatov/Photo host agency RIA Novosti via AP)

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Last month, Putin thanked North Korea for fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces and hailed their sacrifices as Pyongyang confirmed its deployment for the first time. 

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.