Americans hail Pope Leo XIV as ‘breath of fresh air’ one year in, as Trump clashes linger

One year on the job, the first US pope wins support for his progressive views and his defiance of Donald Trump

As Pope Leo XIV concludes his first year as the first American pope on Friday, Americans shared with the Guardian how they feel about the 70-year-old pontiff who has increasingly found himself at odds with Donald Trump.

Several described his papacy as a “breath of fresh air” compared with earlier, more conservative eras of church leadership.