It’s no secret that the gang at CNN aren’t exactly fans of President Trump’s strict immigration policies, which have resulted in an astonishing 94% fewer border encounters in 2025 than occurred under President Biden’s watch a year ago.
But the election of a new American Pope on Thursday has at least some at the network hoping that Leo XIV will be able to get through to Trump in ways that others could not because — wait for it! — he speaks English.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the kind of Pope who speaks English, picks up the phone, and maybe calls the White House and says, hey, let’s have a conversation about this,” CNN Vatican analyst Katie Prejean McGrady suggested during the 11pm ET edition of Laura Coates Live. “He was pretty bold in saying that the Vice President was wrong. Well, now, he speaks their language. Maybe they’ll actually listen to him.”
Of course, the late Pope Francis also spoke English (although not as his first language), and Vice President JD Vance heard an earful — presumably in a language he understood — from Church officials when he visited the Vatican just last month.
Nonetheless, a handful of social media posts from Cardinal Robert Prevost from before he became Pope have given media liberals hope that they’ll have a new ally in challenging President Trump’s policies. The new Pope has “shown a willingness to share some criticisms of the Trump administration’s immigration policies,” host Laura Coates teased at the top of her May 8 program.
Later, after the panel discussion that included McGrady, Coates asked Chicago Democratic Representative Chuy Garcia about the same topic (apparently not a single Republican Representative was available). “What role do you think the Pope should play in voicing any opposition to policies that might trouble him?” Coates wondered.
“Well, as someone who cares for social justice, a Catholic upbringing, and an immigrant myself, I am very heartened and encouraged at some of the posts that have been attributed to him,” Garcia predictably responded.
Here’s video of the relevant exchange on the May 8 edition of CNN’s Laura Coates Live, followed by a longer transcript (click “expand”).
# CNN’s Laura Coates Live
May 8, 2025, 11:05pm ET
Host LAURA COATES: Now, the pick of an American Pope couldn’t come at a more polarizing time in U.S. politics, in both the domestic and, of course, the world stage. And social media posts under the name ‘Robert Prevost’ who have shown a willingness to share some criticisms of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Take a look at this X post from February. It shares an article saying Vice President JD Vance’s interpretation of Christian doctrine is wrong. Will Pope Leo speak out now that he is the pontiff? Well, we will soon find out.
...
COATES: Katie, let me ask you, because now that we have an American Pope at a time when the U.S. president is cracking down on immigration, do you think that this pope is going to prioritize the circumstances, often the plight of migrants in this country?
CNN Vatican Analyst KATIE PREJEAN MCGRADY: I think so. And I think he’ll think of it not so much as migration, the issue; but migrants, the people.
One of the first things he said was, “Peace be with you.” And then he made a direct appeal to us to think about the words Pope Francis offered to us in his weak voice on Easter Sunday. That was a callback to Francis, while at the same time wearing something that looked a little Benedict and JP II. This is his own man as pope.
And so I think he will chart a course that specifically addresses these challenges, but in his way. It’s not necessarily going to be through tweets. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the kind of Pope who speaks English, picks up the phone, and maybe calls the White House and says, hey, let’s have a conversation about this. He was pretty bold in saying that the Vice President was wrong. Well, now, he speaks their language. Maybe they’ll actually listen to him.
...
11:13pm ET
COATES: Joining me now, Congressman Chuy Garcia, a Democrat from Illinois. He’s also a Catholic and also an immigrant to this country. Congressman, glad to have you this morning — evening, excuse me. I can imagine that you are certainly rejoicing tonight. What is the selection of Robert Prevost as the new pope? What does that mean to you? What does it mean to the city of Chicago?
REP. JESUS “CHUY” GARCIA (D-IL): Oh, there is a great sense of pride and glee and celebratory spirit all over Chicagoland because the first American Pope has been elected by the College of Cardinals....And, of course, we’re also very, very hopeful that this is a continuation of sorts of the legacy that Pope Francis left for the poor, for workers, for immigrants, for concerns about the future of the planet and climate change, and calling out people in power to be more compassionate and more just to everyone in our midst.
COATES: Well, Congressman, on that note, I mean, there is an X account posting in Prevost’s name that has posted articles critical of the Trump administration’s stance on immigration and Vice President JD Vance. Now, CNN has not been able to independently confirm the X account is connected to Prevost. But what role do you think the Pope should play in voicing any opposition to policies that might trouble him?
GARCIA: Well, as someone who cares for social justice, a Catholic upbringing, and an immigrant myself, I am very heartened and encouraged at some of the posts that have been attributed to him, calling those in power who have resorted to anti-immigrant views for political reasons, to reflect upon Jesus’s upbringing, the fact that he was once a migrant himself....I am very encouraged by that.
