The cardinals knew the world needed a pope ‘Made in the USA’

Clerics wave US flags during the speech of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

What’s better for Filipino Americans than a Filipino pope? An American pope, one who can effectively communicate a vision of peace, love and unity in a world troubled by an amoral and divisive American presidency.

That’s what the white smoke of Thursday symbolized to me, much more than the hope of a new pope. But no one figured an American.

So when Cardinal Robert Prevost – born in Illinois, but who served in Peru and the Vatican – emerged from the Vatican balcony, it was a jaw dropping moment for all pope watchers.

Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowds as he appears on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica after his election, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

It was thought there was no way an American could be pope. Maybe an Asian, like the Filipino fave, Cardinal Luis Tagle. Or perhaps an African, to indicate the growing expansion of the church. Conservative Catholics thought possibly an Italian.

But the cardinals knew what was needed, and in just the second day of voting, they made Prevost the historical choice, a unifier who just may be the right man for the right time.

Prevost is “Made in the USA.”

That should please President Donald Trump on one hand.

But Prevost is the natural antidote to Trump.

Prevost is the anti-Trump, the first American pope who will make the 47th president pay a spiritual tariff for his self-serving, harsh, pro-billionaire political ways.

The cardinals somehow, divinely, knew that in a world hampered by Trump’s dangerous, narcissistic idiocy, the only way to offset Trump would be an American pope.

And just to make sure people “get it,” Prevost branded himself appropriately, taking the name Leo XIV.

That’s the fourteeth, X-I-V. And right now, the world needs an intravenous shot of what Leo can provide.

Prevost, of course, is a continuation of Francis; but by taking the name Leo, he is also inspired by the previous Leo, the thirteenth, the pope who in the 189o’s provided the guidance that help bring the church into the modern era.

Leo XIII is seen as promoting a progressive vision of faith and social reform. In his most famous encyclical, he spoke of the rights of workers to a fair wage, safe working conditions, the formation of unions. But he was also for a fairer brand of capitalism. He was seen as opposing both socialism and “laissez-faire” capitalism.

It’s a natural counterpoint to Trump, who is taking America and the world back to 1875 with his policy ideas on tariffs, immigration and nationalism.

Prevost as Leo XIV, in In his very first message to 1.4 billion Catholics, was not that specific, but he sent a simple message.

“God loves us, God loves everyone,” the Pope said. It was translated from the Italian but it was said in a far more meaningful way than hack politicians say “God Bless America” in their speeches.

This was serious.

“Evil will not prevail,” he added. “We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand, with God and amongst ourselves, let us go forward. We are the disciples of Christ.

Christ goes before us. The world needs his light…humanity needs him like a bridge to God and his love and to all others. Help us and all others to build bridges with dialog, with meeting to be one common people living always in Peace.”

And then he thanked the late Pope Francis which brought cheers from the crowd.

As an American Catholic, I admit to being stunned by the news at first, as I was rooting for Tagle.

But now I see the Filipino known as “The Asian Francis,” just wouldn’t have had the same impact as the naming of an American in this critical time, the age of Trump.

The church teaching is “the first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Trump only believes the first will be first, and damn the last.

And that’s whom the American people voted for a man who is a convicted felon, 34 counts.

Someone who has been found liable for sexual assault. Someone who is a documented pathological liar.

Maybe Prevost/Leo XIV was sent to save us all?

How will we respond?

It was COVID that kept me away from Mass, and I have not returned. I’ve also expressed my dissatisfaction with the Church’s action on its abuse problem, as well as other rules on LGBTQ, marriage and women in the church. So I am not a totally lapsed Catholic without an excuse. The man-made rules don’t seem very God-like.

But now there’s a new chapter.

I still don’t know what Prevost/Leo XIV will do about all the aforementioned church policies and practices I disagree with.

But I must admit, an American pope putting out the call is enticing.

Even to a catechism kid like me.

This is a time when more people are turning away from Catholicism yet want and crave something more spiritual.

I think people may look back and be open to a call from Leo XIV, and answer affirmatively. I know I am staying awake.

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist, news analyst and stage monologuist. He writes for the Inquirer.net’s US Channel. He has written a weekly “Amok” column on Asian American issues since 1995. Find him on YouTube, patreon and substack.