Newly-Elected American Pope's Voting History Revealed

The Catholic Church made history this week with the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Illinois. While his spiritual leadership is just beginning, the political implications are already making waves in the United States—especially in light of newly surfaced voter records and past social media activity.

According to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Pope Leo XIV is a registered Republican and has a documented history of supporting pro-life causes. Kirk shared the information shortly after the conclave decision was made public on Thursday.

“He’s a registered Republican who has voted in Republican primaries when not living abroad,” Kirk posted on X.

“Our data shows he’s a strong Republican, and he’s pro-life,” he added, posting screenshots indicating that Prevost voted in the 2016 Republican primary and last fall’s general election, though he did not cast ballots in the 2016 or 2020 general elections.

In a follow-up video, Kirk expanded on the new pope’s background: “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.”

“Some people are saying he’s super liberal,” Kirk added. “We know he was a registered Republican. Time will tell.”

While the new pope’s Republican registration and pro-life credentials have been confirmed, his public comments on immigration policy have raised some eyebrows among conservatives.

As a cardinal, Prevost reposted criticism of Trump-era immigration enforcement, including a sharply worded April 14 post that condemned a White House meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national the Trump administration identified as an MS-13 member, human trafficker, and domestic abuser.

“Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” the Catholic commentator’s post read, which Prevost reshared on X.

The post referenced Bukele’s Oval Office appearance with President Donald Trump, during which Bukele pushed back on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins when asked whether he would return Garcia to the U.S.

“I suppose you’re not suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States. Right? How can I return him to the United States? … I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said during the exchange.

Despite the evidence of Garcia’s violent background, Prevost’s repost raised questions about where the future pope draws the line between compassion and justice—a tension that remains front and center in today’s immigration debate.

This wasn’t the only instance where then-Cardinal Prevost appeared to take aim at President Trump’s immigration policies. In 2015, he shared a story by then-New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, which took a critical tone toward Trump’s rhetoric on illegal immigration.

More recently, in February, Prevost responded to Vice President J.D. Vance, who had stated that a Christian’s first duty is to protect their family. Prevost publicly disagreed, writing, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”

While Pope Leo XIV’s social media history shows moments of ideological friction with the Trump administration—particularly on immigration—his pro-life work and Republican voting record suggest a more complex profile than the mainstream media might admit.

The coming months will reveal whether the new pontiff leans into traditional values that defend life, faith, and family—or if his previous social posts foreshadow a more globalist worldview. For now, faithful Catholics and political observers alike are watching closely.

As President Trump continues to defend American sovereignty and protect the country from criminal infiltration at the border, the contrast between the Vatican and Washington could become one of the defining geopolitical dynamics of the moment.