Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church, is once again capturing public attention—this time for what many believe is a not-so-subtle jab at former President Donald Trump. On June 14, Pope Leo will deliver a video message during a large outdoor mass in Chicago, coinciding precisely with Trump’s highly publicized military parade in Washington, D.C.—an event scheduled in celebration of his 79th birthday. The overlap has set social media ablaze, with speculation that the pontiff is intentionally upstaging the former president.
The mass, organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago, will be held at Guaranteed Rate Field, home to the Pope’s favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox. While the Vatican has stated that the Pope’s participation is meant to inspire young Catholics across the country, the timing of the event—on Trump’s birthday and during one of his most self-aggrandizing spectacles—has sparked widespread debate and amusement online.