Bruce Kakac, Alexandria, MN

In a recent letter to the editor, the writer questioned why people celebrated the election of the new Pope and proposed that people should celebrate salvation offered by Christ’s time on Earth.

I recommend to readers the life story of Father Robert Prevost who was elected to become Pope Leo XIV. He lived a life of love and charity that is supposed to be the foundation of the New Testament.

While attending divinity school in Chicago, Father Prevost visited alcoholics and addicts in hospitals and bars to respond to people in need. He spent 10 years in Peru when nuns and priests were killed in a time of government power struggle. While there, Father Prevost traveled to communities to help people find food and jobs.

After Peru, he visited cardinals around the world to learn what the church was doing in different countries and always talked with local people to help those in need.

Father Prevost was celebrated for his compassion for humanity and a world leader who gives hope for the future.

Contrast that with the new American President who many Christians promoted and celebrated his election. President Trump and his Republican supported cabinet cut food aid programs for kids around the world. They slashed American programs for the poor and then proposed adding trillions of dollars in tax cuts to benefit the wealthy. President Trump and Elon Musk traveled to the wealthy oil kingdoms of the Middle East and secured billions of dollars for their own families. The President and his family openly selling Presidential influence to the highest bidder.

Mr. Trump is claimed to be a promoter of religious law in American government but Mr. Trump shows little respect for spiritual or manmade principles.

Many people voted for Trump who said they didn’t like his morals but they liked his policies. More voters didn’t like Mr. Trump because of his lack of morals but they believed his economic skills would bring more wealth to everyone. We were told Trump would take revenge against those who criticize him but his supporters claimed that it was just talk. He wouldn’t really do that would he?

Now President Trump and his political supporters are tearing down American institutions and government standards and it’s just another day in America.

I can understand why people celebrated a new world leader who is the first American Pope, has real Christian values and gives the world hope.

At 70 years old, Pope Leo XIV will likely be Pope long after Mr. Trump is gone.