Pope Leo XIV ignited a wave of criticism across social media this week after issuing a series of public messages calling for stronger climate action, expanded compassion toward migrants, and inclusion of transgender individuals.
The controversy accelerated after the pontiff posted on X on Nov. 16, urging world leaders to prioritize justice for vulnerable communities.
“I urge Heads of State and the leaders of nations to listen to the cry of the poorest,” he wrote. “There can be no peace without justice. The poor remind us of this in many ways, through migration as well as through their cries, which are often stifled by the myth of well-being and progress, which does not take everyone into account.”
Social media users quickly seized on the post.
X influencer Vince Langman wrote: “Only on X could the Pope get ratioed.”
X’s AI chatbot Grok pointed out the Vatican’s extremely limited immigration policies, noting that citizenship is generally confined to clergy, diplomats, and staff, and is revoked once they leave their posts.
The criticism comes amid the Pope’s broader push for global climate and immigration reforms. Earlier this week, Leo XIV renewed his objections to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, saying foreigners were being treated in ways that were “extremely disrespectful.”
Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo, he urged Americans to “look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have.”
U.S. bishops have also amplified concerns about immigration enforcement. In a recent video message, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was “disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement.”
At the same time, the pope deepened his climate advocacy in a video address for COP30 in Brazil.
He warned that “the creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat,” saying one-third of the global population now lives in severe climate vulnerability. He urged political leaders to act with urgency: “There is still time to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5°C … but the window is closing.”
Leo XIV argued that climate initiatives are not just moral imperatives, but also economic ones, saying, “Stronger climate actions will create stronger and fairer economic systems.” He also pressed governments to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, adding, “It is not the agreement that is failing. We are failing in our response.”
NICKI MINAJ SAYS NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION DEMANDS ‘URGENT ACTION’
The Vatican faced additional scrutiny after the pope hosted the annual Jubilee Lunch for the World Day of the Poor, where 48 transgender women reportedly were invited but seated away from the pontiff’s table. Church officials said the seating was random.
Reactions to the transgender attendees were sharply divided online. X user “Wall Street Mav” wrote: “I didn’t think it was possible, but this Pope might be even more radical left wing than the last one.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Vatican for comment.
