U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, faced backlash following a social media post on April 21, 2025, in the wake of Pope Francis’ death. Greene’s message, stating that “evil is being defeated by the hand of God,” was interpreted by many as a veiled reference to the pontiff’s passing. However, Greene did not explicitly mention Pope Francis in her post .
The timing of Greene’s statement coincided with significant global developments. Earlier that day, the Vatican confirmed the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, attributing it to complications from a stroke and heart failure . Additionally, Klaus Schwab, founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced his resignation from the WEF’s board, marking a notable shift in global leadership.
Greene has been a vocal critic of both the Catholic Church and the WEF. In 2022, she publicly criticized the Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases and its stance on immigration, leading to a public feud with Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Greene accused the Church of harboring “monsters” and claimed that bishops were using taxpayer money to advocate for illegal immigration.
Today there were major shifts in global leaderships.
Evil is being defeated by the hand of God.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) April 21, 2025
Born a Catholic, Greene later identified as an evangelical Protestant. She explained her departure from the Church by stating that she could not trust its leadership to protect her children from abuse, citing concerns over the Church’s handling of such matters.
The death of Pope Francis has elicited a range of reactions from political figures. President Donald Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump would attend the pope’s funeral in Rome, describing the event as “the honor of a lifetime” . Trump’s relationship with Pope Francis had been marked by public disagreements, particularly over immigration policies. The pope had criticized Trump’s plan to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, calling it “not Christian.” Despite these differences, Trump accepted an invitation to visit the Vatican in 2017 .
Vice President J.D. Vance also met with Pope Francis on April 20, just hours before the pope’s death. The Vatican described their meeting as an “exchange of opinions on the international situation,” focusing on issues such as war, political tensions, and humanitarian crises, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners . Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, has previously defended the Trump administration’s immigration policies by invoking the concept of “ordo amoris,” or the order of love, which prioritizes care for family and community . Pope Francis responded to this interpretation by emphasizing a broader, more inclusive understanding of Christian love, referencing the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.
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The passing of Pope Francis has prompted a global outpouring of tributes. World leaders, including U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, King Charles III, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, have praised the pope’s moral leadership, humility, and efforts toward peace and justice . His final wish was to be buried simply in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
As the world reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy, the reactions from political figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance illustrate the complex interplay between religion and politics. Greene’s controversial post highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Catholic Church’s influence on political discourse, while the responses from Trump and Vance underscore the continuing debates over immigration policy and the role of religious leaders in shaping public opinion.
In the coming days, attention will likely turn to the process of selecting a successor to Pope Francis. A papal conclave is expected to convene soon to elect the next pontiff, with several potential candidates under speculation . The choice of the new pope will have significant implications for the direction of the Catholic Church and its engagement with global political issues.
As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, his death serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring influence of religious leaders on global affairs and the ongoing challenges at the intersection of faith and politics.
