Catholic Church Doubles Down On Communism With New Pope Leo XIV

On May 8, 2025, the Vatican conclave, after two days of deliberation, elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope, succeeding Pope Francis. Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal of Italian, French, and Spanish descent, has been portrayed by some conservative Catholic factions as a “Jewish communist” due to his progressive stances and rumored familial ties. While there’s no concrete evidence of Jewish ancestry, critics on platforms like X have pointed to his mother’s maiden name, often associated with Sephardic Jewish lineage, and his missionary work in Peru, where he engaged with Marxist-leaning liberation theology movements. These groups, which blended Catholic teachings with social justice and economic redistribution, were often labeled “communist” by their detractors during the 1980s, a charge that has resurfaced to frame Prevost’s papacy as a continuation of Francis’s liberal reforms.

Prevost’s appointment to lead the Dicastery for Bishops under Francis, a role he assumed in 2023, gave him significant influence over global bishop selections, often favoring candidates who supported inclusivity, such as for LGBTQ+ Catholics, and social justice initiatives—positions that align with what some conservatives derisively call “communist” ideals. His election, requiring a two-thirds majority of the 133 cardinal electors, reflects the impact of Francis’s appointees, who made up over 80% of the voting body, many hailing from non-European regions like Africa and Asia. This shift has fueled speculation that the Vatican is moving further left, with Prevost’s background as a missionary in Peru and his moderate stance on issues like immigration and interfaith dialogue (particularly with Jewish and Muslim communities) being cited as evidence of a “Jewish communist” agenda, though these claims are largely rhetorical and lack substantiation beyond ideological disagreements.

The narrative of a “Jewish communist” Pope, while inflammatory, taps into broader anxieties among traditionalist Catholics about the Church’s direction under Francis’s legacy, which Prevost is expected to continue. His diplomatic approach, seen in his handling of delicate Vatican issues, contrasts with the more conservative candidates like Cardinal Péter Erdő, who opposed Francis’s migrant policies. Prevost’s election has sparked backlash from some quarters, with X users calling it a “Vatican conspiracy” to install a figure who will further erode traditional doctrine. However, these accusations seem more rooted in political and cultural fears than in verifiable facts, as Prevost’s career reflects a pragmatic, pastoral focus rather than any explicit communist or Jewish identity, highlighting the deep divisions within the Church as it navigates a globalized, modern era.