If we recall the election of Leo XIV almost a year ago, on May 8, 2025, the prevailing interpretation was that it was the Catholic Church’s response to Donald Trump, a kind of antidote or even an anti-Trump. That expectation quickly deflated because Robert Prevost practically disappeared, adopting a prudent and observant stance that avoided direct confrontation with the president of his homeland. But he has managed to become that figure through a much more effective tactical maneuver.










