The election of Robert Prevost as the new Supreme Pontiff is viewed positively by the Government, especially for his commitment to defending migrants in the U.S. curia. Sources from the presidential environment indicate they see in the new Pope a potential ally against the border policies of the Donald Trump administration, and there are expectations that Claudia Sheinbaum will request a private audience in the coming months.
Prevost, who is part of the Dicastery for Bishops, a Vatican body that oversees the selection of new bishops worldwide, has stood out for his work in favor of migrants in different parts of the world, especially in the U.S., where Trump has maintained a very hardline stance on immigration. According to the Secretary of the Interior, Prevost has advocated in Washington for priests and missionaries detained by the Border Patrol for their support of migrants.
Regarding his relationship with JD Vance, who is also Catholic, it has been mentioned that Prevost has established contacts with members of the Supreme Court in Washington, the majority of whom profess the Catholic faith. His role in the meeting between Vance and the former Pope, Francis I, before the latter's death in Rome, would have been significant.
The immigration issue remains an important topic in U.S. politics, despite the decrease in arrests at the border. Prevost has been involved in efforts crucial to countering Trump’s deportation plans, which have been challenged in various courts across the country. For her part, Sheinbaum did not take long to congratulate the new Supreme Pontiff after his election, suggesting an interest in establishing direct contact with him in the future.
