As Pope Francis’ death has sparked waves of reflection within the Catholic Church, a growing group of conservative Catholics in the United States is hoping for a significant shift towards a more traditionalist papacy. Jesse Romero, a Catholic podcaster based in Phoenix, Arizona, has been one of the prominent voices calling for a “Trump-like pope” who will restore what he sees as the traditional Christian values Francis’ papacy often challenged.
Romero’s message is clear: “Anyone who’s soft on abortion, who has Marxist tendencies, who’s pro-homosexual — we’ve got to get rid of them,” he asserted in a recent podcast. He emphasized the need for a hard-line approach, especially in regards to bishops who have supported Pride parades, calling for them to be “fired.”
This sentiment resonates with a growing faction of U.S. Catholics who have long viewed Pope Francis’ reforms with skepticism. David Deane, a theologian at the Atlantic School of Theology, noted that these conservative Catholics see Francis’ death as an opportunity for a “decisive shift” away from the reformist agenda he embodied. They are hopeful that the next conclave will bring about a rejection of the direction set by the late pontiff.
The discontent with Pope Francis’ papacy was particularly apparent among those affiliated with the “MAGA” Catholic movement — a group that blends support for Donald Trump’s nationalist agenda with a strong commitment to Christian orthodoxy. John Allen Jr., editor of Crux, a Catholic news website, noted that many of these conservative Catholics felt alienated by Francis’ views on social issues, such as his openness to climate change action, immigration, and his controversial stance on same-sex unions.
High-profile figures like Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally, have openly criticized Francis’ papacy, denouncing it as “illegitimate” and accusing the pontiff of violating church dogma. Stone’s comments, made on social media, reflect a broader animosity within traditionalist circles. The conservative push has been further amplified by media outlets like EWTN, the world’s largest Catholic network, which has raised millions of dollars to support conservative programming.
The influence of Trump and his allies in shaping this conservative Catholic movement cannot be understated. According to The Financial Times, the political agenda pushed by Trump has been embraced by many U.S. Catholics who support his stances on issues such as border protection, the defense of life, and gender identity. Trump’s task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” and his appointment of Brian Burch as the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican — a vocal critic of Francis — have strengthened this relationship between conservative politics and Catholicism.
Catholics who align with Trump’s political ideology see his rhetoric as closely linked to the faith’s traditional teachings. “Trump has boosted Catholicism by reaffirming some essential things,” said John Yep, leader of Catholics for Catholics. “That was good for Catholics, and that’s why 58% of Catholics voted Republican in November.”
However, as Pope Francis’ papacy has shown, not all American Catholics agree with this vision. Experts argue that the conservative camp, while vocal and influential, does not represent a majority within the U.S. Church. Steven Millies, a professor at the Catholic Theological Union, pointed out that while the anti-Francis sentiment is loud, it is disproportionate to the actual number of Catholics it represents.
The growing influence of conservative seminaries in the U.S., such as the Franciscan University of Steubenville and Ave Maria University, has helped foster a new generation of priests who are more doctrinally conservative. A recent survey by the Catholic Project found that over 80% of priests ordained since 2020 identify as theologically conservative or orthodox. This shift within the clergy is fueling the desire for a pope who will embrace a more traditional, doctrinally rigid approach to the faith.
However, the rise of conservative Catholicism in the U.S. does not come without its challenges. Pope Francis was often criticized for his embrace of Vatican II reforms and his outreach to marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ communities. His 2016 exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which suggested that divorced and remarried Catholics might receive the sacraments, was a flashpoint for conservatives. Similarly, his decision in 2023 to bless same-sex couples was met with outrage among traditionalists, as was his stance on climate change and immigration.
Despite these disagreements, it is clear that the desire for a shift towards a more traditionalist church is gaining momentum in certain quarters. As the U.S. Catholic Church grapples with its future direction in the wake of Pope Francis’ death, the debate over its path forward is far from over. As Romero put it, “We’re looking to someone who can heal the fractures within the church and eradicate some of the modernist tendencies that have crept in.”
The next conclave, and the eventual selection of a new pope, will likely be a pivotal moment in determining whether these voices will find a greater influence within the Vatican, or whether the legacy of Pope Francis will continue to shape the direction of the Church for years to come.
