Pope Leo for president? Meeting with Obama guru sparks speculation
Pope Leo XIV speaks to reporters on the Iran war in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on April 7, 2026. © Guglielmo Mangiapane, REUTERS
A private meeting between a prominent figure from Chicago and veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod in the months leading up to midterm elections often sparks speculation about a major political move. That same kind of curiosity surfaced after reports that Pope Leo XIV met with Axelrod on April 9.
The meeting quickly fueled rumors and questions. Some observers wondered whether the pope planned to meet with Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. Others speculated about a new public communications approach from the Vatican.
Online, the meeting also became the subject of humor. Christopher Hale, a Democratic activist who writes the Substack newsletter “Letters from Leo,” mentioned the meeting in a post on X to his more than 65,000 followers. One reply joked that the pope was planning a campaign stop in Iowa, accompanied by an AI-generated image of him standing in a cornfield. In another lighthearted exchange, a user asked who would be the funniest Democratic candidate to unexpectedly become a successful president in 2028. A popular menswear writer responded with a joking answer: the pope.
Despite the jokes, Pope Leo XIV has recently become a noticeable critic of President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, raising his profile internationally.
Technically, because Pope Leo is an American citizen, he would meet the constitutional requirements to run for president. The Constitution requires candidates to be natural-born citizens who are at least 35 years old and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. At age 70, Leo meets those standards.
However, experts say the possibility is essentially unrealistic. Catholic canon law discourages clergy from holding political office, and the pope also serves as the head of a sovereign state, the Vatican. That dual role would create serious conflicts of loyalty, according to Christopher Hale, who worked on Catholic outreach for Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.
Hale said that although Leo technically could run, it will not happen. He added that the pope remains a registered voter in the United States and cast an absentee ballot in the 2024 election, though his choice is not publicly known.
Father Francis X. Clooney, a professor at Harvard Divinity School, explained that Catholic clergy are generally expected to avoid holding public office. Priests and bishops may speak about moral or social issues affecting society, but running for political positions is strongly discouraged.
Clooney pointed to a historical example. In 1981, Pope John Paul II asked Massachusetts Representative Father Robert Drinan, the first Catholic priest elected to Congress, to choose between his priestly duties and his role in government. Drinan, a Democrat who had served for a decade in Congress and had been critical of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, ultimately left political office.
In recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV has openly criticized President Donald Trump’s actions regarding Iran. The president is accustomed to criticism from political opponents and commentators, but Leo’s remarks have drawn attention because of his global religious influence.
Unlike some past popes who addressed politics in broader moral terms, Leo has been more direct in discussing current events. During his Palm Sunday message, he referenced the conflict with Iran and said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
His message differed from some conservative American religious leaders, including Reverend Franklin Graham, who publicly prayed for victory in the conflict.
Leo’s views do not neatly align with any single American political party. He has criticized excessive greed and aspects of capitalism while also opposing abortion rights, a position consistent with Catholic teaching. Before becoming pope, he shared posts and opinion pieces on social media that were critical of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic. Public records also indicate that he previously voted in Republican primary elections in Illinois.
Speaking with reporters on April 7, Leo called President Donald Trump’s warnings toward Iran “truly unacceptable.” He urged people to remember civilians in Iran, including children and elderly individuals, who he said were suffering because of escalating tensions.
The pope called on citizens in all involved countries to contact their political leaders and encourage them to pursue peace rather than war.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama has expressed interest in meeting the Chicago-born pontiff. Speaking on a podcast earlier this year, Obama said that although he has met many notable figures, he has not yet met the new pope and would like the opportunity in the future. Obama also noted their shared connection to Chicago and their support for the Chicago White Sox baseball team.
Maryann Cusimano Love, who chairs the politics department at The Catholic University of America, said it would not be surprising if the two eventually met. She suggested they likely respect one another.
As for the meeting between Axelrod and Pope Leo XIV, details about the discussion have not been made public. Clooney cautioned against drawing major conclusions from it.
Cusimano Love pointed out that Axelrod and his wife have deep ties to Chicago’s Catholic community. Their daughter, who has severe epilepsy, lives at Misericordia, a Catholic residential community supported by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
While some people jokingly imagine the pope entering American politics, Cusimano Love said the reality is quite different. She explained that the pope’s responsibilities extend far beyond any national political office.
As leader of the Catholic Church, Leo represents about 1.3 billion Catholics across 193 countries. According to Cusimano Love, that global role places him in a position that transcends political boundaries, focusing instead on human dignity and moral concerns that affect people around the world.
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