In today's digital age, even religious leaders leave a trail on social media, revealing glimpses of their personal and political views. This was evident with the election of the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost. His past social media activity was swiftly analyzed following his election, stirring varied reactions, particularly from conservative circles. Before ascending to the papacy, Cardinal Robert Prevost was active on social media, occasionally posting comments that seemed critical of prominent political figures like former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. One of his recent activities on the platform X was in April, where he reshared a post by a Catholic commentator criticizing Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele. The post was related to their laughter over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Maryland. It linked to an article in the Catholic Standard, where Bishop Evelio Menjivar questioned the Catholic community's silence on the issue, asking, “Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” In February, Prevost also shared stories critical of Vance, including a piece from the National Catholic Reporter. He reiterated a headline that challenged Vance’s assertion from a Fox News interview that Christians should prioritize love for those close to them over others from different nations. Prevost countered, “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” When NBC News sought comments, the White House referred them to a tweet by Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and had coincidentally met Pope Francis shortly before his passing. Vance congratulated Prevost, expressing optimism for his leadership and stating, “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Trump also extended his congratulations, taking pride in Prevost being the first American pope. On Truth Social, he remarked, “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Prevost’s social media activity also indicates his support for causes like protecting immigrants, reducing gun violence, and addressing climate change. Following the Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017, he shared a post by Senator Chris Murphy urging action beyond mere thoughts and prayers. In the same year, he reposted messages in support of Dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, emphasizing the need for a fair and moral immigration system. Despite the flurry of attention, Prevost's social media presence was not extensive, and much of it aligned with standard Catholic positions. Therefore, it doesn’t fully encapsulate his political views. Nonetheless, his election led to a surge in his followers on X, gaining over 200,000 new followers within hours. Some conservative commentators have already responded to Prevost’s election and social media history. Laura Loomer, a far-right commentator and Trump ally, criticized his views, labeling him a “Marxist puppet in the Vatican.” On the other hand, Charlie Kirk, another conservative figure, offered a more measured response. He expressed reservations about Prevost’s apparent openness to immigration and his support following George Floyd's death, but acknowledged Prevost’s pro-life stance. Kirk commented, “There’s a lot yet to learn about this pope, but I hope that he will be a strong advocate for strong borders. And for sovereignty.” In 2020, Prevost had reshared tweets expressing prayers and support for George Floyd, whose murder by a Minneapolis police officer ignited a national dialogue on race relations and policing. Notably, other Republicans, like former President George W. Bush, had a more favorable reaction, describing Prevost’s election as a “historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world.” Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden, a Democrat and the second Catholic U.S. president, also expressed his support on X, stating, “Habemus papam — May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.” As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, the world watches to see how his past beliefs and statements will influence his leadership of the Catholic Church and its millions of followers worldwide.