Pope Leo XIV may be new to the papacy, but his views on modern political and moral issues aren’t hard to trace. A closely examined X account linked to him, though not officially confirmed by the Vatican, reveals years of digital footprints.

Racial Justice & Police Brutality

Pope Leo XIV called racism a moral emergency and urged white Catholics to face it head-on during the George Floyd protests.

• May 2020: Retweeted — “We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes… This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion.”

• May 2020: Retweeted an op-ed from Chicago Catholic by Cardinal Blase Cupich, who wrote, “racism is a life issue.” The piece called out structural racism in policing, education, and healthcare.
• May 2020: Retweeted calls from clergy and laity for the Church to “reject racism and seek justice,” affirming Black lives matter in both policy and doctrine.

 Immigration & Refugees

Leo XIV’s tweets championed migrant dignity and oppose nationalist, anti-immigrant policies.

• April 2024: Retweeted an op-ed by Bishop Evelio Menjivar condemning the deportation of migrants to El Salvador: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed?”

• June 2019: Retweeted a statement denouncing U.S. immigration policies: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents… The shame is on us all.”
• September 2017: Retweeted a critique of Trump’s “bad hombres” rhetoric, noting it “fuels racism and nativism.”
• September 2017: Retweeted support for Dreamers: “I stand with the #Dreamers and all people who are working toward an immigration system that is fair, just, and moral. #DefendDACA #DACA”

Gun Control

Pope Leo XIV pushed for gun reform and accountability.

• October 2017: Retweeted Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy’s message after the Las Vegas mass shooting that killed 58 people:  “To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it.”

Clergy Abuse Transparency

Long before he became pope, Leo XIV broke ranks to denounce the Church’s silence on clergy abuse.

• June 2019: Retweeted a La República article quoting him: “We reject cover-ups and secrecy… On behalf of the Church, we want to tell people that if there has been any offense, if they have suffered or are victims of the wrongdoing of a priest, they should come and report it so that we can act for the good of the Church, the person, and the community.”

 Climate Change & Environment

Leo XIV backs climate action and warns the U.S. against retreating from its green commitments.

• April 2017: Retweeted a report raising alarm that Trump’s executive orders could prevent the U.S. from meeting carbon emissions goals

Abortion & Bioethics

His posts on abortion suggest a nuanced concern—particularly around post-birth care and ethics in medical settings.

• April 2017: Retweeted an article discussing ethical and legal questions after footage surfaced of a former Planned Parenthood doctor suggesting care for babies that survive abortion might depend on “who’s in the room.”

Gender & Education

In line with traditional Catholic views, Leo XIV has retweeted content critical of “gender ideology.”

• September 2017: Retweeted a Paraguayan government statement reaffirming the constitutional definition of a “traditional family” and ordering the removal of materials that described gender as a social construct.

Death Penalty

• March 2015: Tweeted simply: “It’s time to end the death penalty.”

Voting History

A person with Pope Leo XIV’s name and birthdate voted in GOP primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016, per public records.