Trump’s America created a culture where religious freedom flourishes

For the first time since the keys of the Kingdom were handed to St. Peter himself, a man born and raised on American soil has been elevated to the papacy: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

This is not a moment to gloss over. The big question is, “Why now?” Why an American? Why Prevost? The Vatican will give the pat answers about prayerful discernment and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which is undoubtedly true. But we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn’t consider another context — the political and cultural implications that made this extraordinary moment possible.

The truth of the matter is that the selection of an American pope might never have occurred without the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. That sounds way out there, but stay with me.

Yes, I know the new pope has been critical of some of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, particularly the refugee restrictions. The new pope has spoken with compassion for migrants. That’s not a surprise — it’s consistent with Catholic teachings.

But don’t make the mistake the media wants you to make: Pope Leo XIV may not support every one of Trump’s policies, but there is no denying that Trump’s America, with its strong borders, strong families and strong faith, created a culture where religious freedom flourished.

Under the Trump administration, the Little Sisters of the Poor weren’t forced to violate their conscience. Pro-life protections have expanded. Catholic schools are championed. He appointed judges who respect the Constitution and the First Amendment. For all the so-called “mean tweets,” Trump’s America is a place where faithful voices can rise, unafraid.

Trump’s executive orders protected conscience rights. Christianity is not mocked or marginalized to the degree it was under Biden. It is now more honored than it has been in modern times. Catholic media platforms, like “Hallow,” have gained popularity with over 20 million downloads now. Hallow even had its very own Super Bowl commercial this year, and Bible sales rose 22% in 2024, year over year.

The church in America under Trump is not just surviving, it’s reasserting itself.

And make no mistake: The College of Cardinals noticed.

The conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV wasn’t made up of choir boys. It was made up of cardinals who understand politics, and, in that sense, Pope Leo XIV is an ideal political compromise: respected by Pope Francis’s appointees, trusted by traditionalists, and, most importantly, an American, at a time when religious freedom is flourishing more in the United States than anywhere else on the planet.

After all, global secularism is accelerating.

Churches in Europe are empty. Latin America’s once rock-solid Catholic majority is eroding under pressure from evangelical Protestantism and socialist governments.

So here we are in America. Troubled, yes.

Divided, yes. But still home to tens of millions of Catholics, thousands of parochial schools, hundreds of seminaries and religious liberty. In what other nation can the church speak as boldly as it can here?

None. So, yes, it is no exaggeration to say that without that political (or cultural) opening, without that resurgence of unapologetic faith in America, Cardinal Prevost may never have been selected pope. He would have remained a loyal bishop doing good work, but he was not seen as the global voice the church needed.

Trump didn’t make Pope Leo XIV pope.

But Trump’s America made it possible for an American pope to rise.

God bless Pope Leo XIV. And God bless the country that made his election possible.

Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman, attorney and author of “Bright Spots, Big Country, What Makes America Great.” He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and editor of The Caddo Republican. His columns have appeared regularly in 318 Forum since 2007. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by e-mail at louisavallone@mac.com, and on American Ground Radio at 101.7FM and 710 AM, weeknights from 6 - 7 p.m., and streaming live on keelnews.com.