Just hours after the death of Pope Francis at age, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene ignited a firestorm with a cryptic post on social media. “Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God,” Greene wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Though Greene did not mention Pope Francis by name, the timing of her message—immediately following the Vatican’s announcement—led many to interpret her words as a celebration of the pontiff’s passing. The backlash was swift, with critics accusing the Georgia Republican of disrespect and suggesting her post crossed a line, especially given the global mourning for the pope.
Greene, who left the Catholic Church years ago and has repeatedly criticized its leadership, has a history of controversial remarks about Catholicism. She has previously accused the Church of being “run by Satan” and cited its handling of abuse scandals as a reason for her departure. In her recent post, some supporters argued she was referencing not just the pope’s death but also the resignation of Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, another frequent target of Greene’s criticism.
As debate rages online, Greene has not clarified her intent, leaving her statement open to interpretation—and fueling further controversy over her views on faith, leadership, and the Catholic Church.
