Pope Leo XIV issued a pointed one-word response when asked if he had anything to say to America.

The newly-elected leader was peppered with questions on Monday as he moved through a crowd in the Vatican, including one from NewsNation’s Robert Sherman.

‘Any message for the United States?’ he asked.

‘Many,’ the pope – Chicago-born Robert Prevost – quickly responded.

He added: ‘God bless you all.’

The brief encounter sparked debate online as many interpreted it to be a dig at Donald Trump – who Leo had previously criticized on X in recent years.

‘I just hope this pope ain’t woke,’ one responded, with another calling it a ‘holy mic drop.’

Others questioned whether Leo may have misheard the reporter over ‘any blessings for the United States’, saying it ‘makes more sense’ given that he told the nation ‘God bless you all.’

Pope Leo XIV issued a pointed one-word response when asked if he had anything to say to the people of the United States, admitting he has ‘many’ things to say to his homeland

Many took the response to be an opening shot from Leo against Trump, with the new pope having made his disapproval of his policies clear on his social media.

His last retweet, on April 14, slams the administration’s deportation of undocumented migrant and Maryland father-of-three Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 30, to El Salvador.

The post reads: ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’

The 69-year-old also shared several articles that address Catholic JD Vance’s stance on immigration. One of them is titled: ‘JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.’

Pope Leo also shared a post in 2018 that read: ‘There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.’

In response to his remark on having ‘many’ messages to the United States this week, one X user said: ‘Having a pope who’s a native English speaker means he’s gonna tell them a million different ways how terrible they are.’

‘Many positive messages I’m sure,’ another sarcastically responded.

Many took the response to be an opening shot from Leo against the Trump administration, with the new pope having made his disapproval of Trump’s policies clear on his social media

The 69-year-old has shared a number of posts criticizing the Trump administration, including one that address Catholic JD Vance’s stance on immigration

Pope Leo’s stance on immigration should come as no surprise, as he spent the majority of his career in Latin America, even becoming a naturalized citizen of Peru.

On Thursday, as he addressed the world as Pope for the first time, he spoke in Spanish as well as Italian but notably avoided speaking his native English.

Chants of ‘Leo, Leo’ ran through the crowd who still appeared to be shocked with many mouthing ‘An American?’

The first American born Pope, Prevost emerged victorious in the Conclave as he was reportedly seen as ‘the least American of the Americans’ in the Church’s leadership, and as a silent reformer who would carry on much of the work of Pope Francis.

However, despite the Pope’s stance, both President Trump and JD Vance were quick to congratulate him on his election.

‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,’ Trump said.

‘What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’

Vice President Vance added: ‘Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!’