Should Catholics label Pope Leo XIV liberal or conservative?

Many on social media platforms and in the mainstream media debate whether the new pontiff supports liberal or conservative politics.

Some go as far as to label him as “anti-MAGA” or “progressive.” Others share his past tweets or voting history.

However, some Catholics are pushing back, explaining that the answer to this question is neither. The pope is a spiritual leader, not a political one.

Here’s what some people say to those who politically label Pope Leo XIV:

Catholic conservative commentator Alexandra Lains lays out the Pope’s role as the Vicar of Christ. She explains that if you “demand the Vicar of Christ toe your party line, that’s just not how this works.”

Here’s Alexandra Lains' video below:

“This is not American politics,” Lains begins. “The Pope is not a Democrat, he's not a Republican, he's not here to wear a MAGA hat or a wave of pride flag, he's not a political figurehead, he's a spiritual leader, he's not your guy, he's God's guy.”

“You’re bickering back and forth over him not being progressive enough or even being anti-MAGA. This isn't about you. You're arguing over what side he's on,” she continues. “His job is to uphold scripture. 

“If you're mad he's against same-sex marriage, gender ideology, abortion, open the Bible because then you'd be pretty mad at Jesus too. You don't get to demand that the Vicar of Christ toe your party line; that's just not how this works.” 

“It's not the job of the church or the Pope to conform to the world. These people they don't want to just correct the Pope they want to correct Jesus, they want to rebrand the Bible, they want to reshape Christianity to be a mirror that reflects them, and that's just not how this works.”

St. Ann’s Catholic Parish pastor Father Edwin Leonard of Coppell, Texas, mirrored a similar take during his Sunday homily.

Here’s the clip below:

“We should not try to fit our Pope into these American conservative or liberal camps. Whoever you voted for, you should feel uneasy because the Catholic Church does not fit neatly into either of those categories,” Father Leonard says in an Instagram reel. 

“I know that some people are going to be upset, but it is true. We want, as a church, someone who is going to be able to stand up for the human dignity of every single person.”

Catholic convert and Rewire the West founder Evan Amato also “implored” people to stop looking at Pope Leo XIV’s election “through the lens of American left/right politics,” for “the good of your soul.”

He encouraged people to pray for him and to “trust in the Holy Spirit.” He also asked people to “pray that you may have the humility to follow him where he calls you to grow.”

Here’s his full post below:

Here is the full text of Evan Amato’s post:

“I implore you — if you are viewing the election of Pope Leo XIV through the lens of American left/right politics, stop now for the good of your soul. Celebrate the election of the Holy Father. Pray for him and his pontificate. Pray that you may have the humility to follow him where he calls you to grow. Trust in the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit will never abandon Christ’s Church. You are not called to commentate on the Holy Father’s pontificate. You are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. You are called to be a saint. Focus on that, and everything else will fall into place.

Pope Leo XIV’s brother, Louis Prevost, told viewers in an interview that he doesn’t believe “there will be a lot of politics involved” in his pontificate.

Here’s the video below:

Click here if you cannot see the post above.

“I wouldn't call him liberal Church-wise, with the Church rules,” Prevost says. "I'd say he's more on the 'here's the rules that have been set. Let's follow them.’"

Pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV!

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