Trump Claims Influence in Recent Papal Election

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:49:00 +0200

The Vatican has traditionally held that the election of a Pope is guided by the Holy Spirit through a careful process of ritual, prayer, and secrecy. However, recent statements by former U.S. President Donald J. Trump have challenged this long-standing understanding. According to Trump, the election of Pope Leo was not driven by divine guidance, but rather by his own influence. He claimed that the College of Cardinals chose a pope capable of managing the American President, implying that his presence in politics played a decisive role. Trump's comments suggest a view of Vatican City as orbiting around his personal influence, humorously proposing a hypothetical third color for the papal smoke signaling his role. The article explores the potential theological and doctrinal implications if a secular figure could sway papal elections, including a satirical nod to the expansion of papal infallibility to cover social media posts. Trump reportedly added that he would have made an excellent po