Despite political differences with Pope Francis, Donald Trump is showing love and sympathy towards the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Recently, Trump expressed his prayers and well-wishes for the Pope, hoping for his recovery amid health challenges. These words of support and kindness signal a level of respect and warmth toward the Roman Pontiff, reflecting Trump’s admiration and acknowledgment of the Pope’s global influence while also engaging in diplomatic and personal goodwill, a move that resonates with both Catholics and Protestants alike.
Zenit News Agency, whose motto is “The world seen from Rome,” published the following remarks given by President Donald Trump about Pope Francis:
• “President Donald Trump has expressed his support for Pope Francis as the 88-year-old pontiff remains hospitalized in critical condition.” [1]
• “White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the president’s concern, stating, ‘Trump has been informed, and we are praying for the pope‘.” [1]
• “On Monday, February 24, Trump publicly addressed the situation, wishing Pope Francis a speedy recovery. ‘It’s a very tough situation. I hope he gets better soon,’ he said from the Oval Office.” [1]
• “Trump and Pope Francis have had a complex relationship, marked by both moments of mutual respect and political disagreements.” [1]
• “Despite political differences, the pope extended a warm message of prayer to Trump last month upon his second inauguration.” [1]
One of the highlights of Rome’s ecumenical movement is that it brings people together despite their differences. Pope Francis and Donald Trump have had notable disagreements; however, both men have recognized each other’s significant influence. Trump, aware of the importance of the Catholic vote in U.S. elections, sought to appeal to Catholic voters by speaking positively of the Pope in the lead-up to the 2024 election. This demonstrates how a complicated political dynamic involving ideological disagreements can exist while at the same time acknowledging each other’s influence and the need for strategic engagement.
However, there are matters in which both the Vatican and the current administration in the United States have in common. The restoration of the church’s influence in public life, advocating for a closer union of church and state, and, of course, Sunday laws—which historically have been tied to religious observances, family values, and labor rights. Sunday rest has the potential to serve as a convergence point that unites people across religious, social, and even secular lines, as it appeals to multiple interests.
World leaders, including Donald Trump, will continue seeking good public relations with the Holy See, with its 1.4 billion members, recognizing its influence as a central hub where nations, faiths, and ideologies converge. As global challenges push societies toward seeking common solutions, Sunday rest will emerge as a unifying principle—bridging Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, other religions, and secular perspectives in the pursuit of a harmonized social order under the mark of the beast crisis.
“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience” (Great Controversy, p. 588).
Sources
[1] https://zenit.org/2025/02/24/trump-weighs-in-on-popes-health-and-heres-what-he-says/
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