Following President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the first American-born pope, Pope Leo XIV , social media users were quick to discover that the new pope had previously been critical of Vice President J.D. Vance.

In February, Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, posted two news articles to his X profile. One, titled, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” refuted Vance’s proclamation about Christian priorities on Fox News. The other delved deeper into the late Pope Francis’ criticism of Vance using the Catholic concept of “ordo amoris” to justify the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Vance met with Pope Francis just a few hours before the pontiff’s death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The religious leader initially dismissed the Catholic convert, but Vance was eventually granted a private audience.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” Vance later shared on social media. “It was really quite beautiful.”

Following the Vatican’s announcement of Pope Leo’s election, Trump took to social media to celebrate the appointment of an American pope.

“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “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!”

However, Trump initially had a different American cardinal in mind for the role. After joking with reporters ahead of the papal conclave that he’d like to be the next pope, the president offered a hometown pick.

“I must say we have a cardinal who happens to be out of a place called New York who’s very good,” he noted, likely referring to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. “We’ll see what happens.”

Dolan offered the invocation during Trump’s second inauguration ceremony in January. He also led Pope Francis’ funeral mass service at New York City’s famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday, April 26.

Prior to the conclave, religious experts told PEOPLE that the appointment of an American pope was unlikely.

“I think that there’s no chance for an American pope just because the United States is already so powerful in the world,” said Dr. Bill Cavanaugh, a professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University.