From Mourning to Mockery: The Internet Explodes After MAGA Groups Celebrate the Death of Pope Francis With Hate-Filled Posts

A wave of shock and anger has erupted online after far-right social media users, identifying as Christian nationalists and MAGA supporters, openly celebrated the death of Pope Francis, sparking outrage across political and religious communities.

The Pope’s death, which was announced earlier this week, has left Catholics around the world in mourning.

But while the faithful prayed and paid tribute, a deeply disturbing reaction surfaced in some corners of the internet. On X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and fringe forums, dozens of self-proclaimed Christian conservatives responded not with sorrow, but with joy.

Posts with phrases like “Rot in hell, false prophet” and “Finally, the globalist puppet is gone” quickly gained traction, with thousands of likes and shares.

One popular right-wing influencer, known for spreading QAnon conspiracy theories, posted: “Pope Francis was never a man of God.

He was a Marxist heretic who bowed to the deep state. Good riddance.”

This type of rhetoric did not come as a surprise to those who have tracked the growing radicalization within parts of the Christian nationalist movement in the United States.

Over the past few years, a number of right-wing groups have distanced themselves from the Vatican, accusing the Pope of being “too liberal,” “too globalist,” or even “satanic” for his progressive stances on climate change, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and immigration.

Pope Francis, throughout his papacy, has championed social justice, urged compassion for migrants and the poor, and pushed for environmental stewardship — positions that made him a hero to many Catholics worldwide but also a target of vitriol from far-right ideologues.

Conservative Catholic groups have previously criticized his approach, but the MAGA-aligned faction took that disdain further, crossing into openly hostile territory that shocked even secular observers.

Journalist Sarah Kendzior, an expert on authoritarian movements, called the reaction “a textbook example of how politics can corrupt faith.” In a widely shared post, she wrote: “We’re watching a group that claims to be Christian celebrate a man’s death — not just any man, but a spiritual leader to over a billion people.

This is not about theology anymore. This is raw hatred.”

Christian leaders from across denominations condemned the online behavior.

Reverend James Martin, a Jesuit priest and well-known author, stated: “These responses are not Christian in any sense of the word. They reflect the sickness of a movement that has replaced the Gospel with nationalism and cruelty.”

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The Vatican itself did not directly respond to the online comments, but sources close to the Holy See expressed deep sadness over the reaction.

A senior Vatican official, speaking anonymously, said, “This is a moment of mourning, not just for Catholics, but for all who believe in peace and mercy.

The fact that there are people celebrating is disturbing. It reflects a growing division in the Christian world.”

The growing schism between traditional Christianity and the Christian nationalist movement has been well-documented. Many adherents of the latter movement have turned away from established churches and instead embraced a fusion of ultra-conservative politics, conspiracy theories, and religious symbolism.

At Trump rallies, slogans like “Jesus is King, Trump is President” and “Christ is Coming, and So Is the Storm” have become common sights, reflecting a belief that Donald Trump was divinely chosen to lead America.

In that worldview, Pope Francis is often cast as an enemy — a globalist figurehead working against “God’s plan” for the United States.

His focus on building bridges, calling out systemic injustice, and refusing to condemn marginalized communities has been twisted into proof of his supposed betrayal of the faith.

Dr. Anthea Butler, professor of religion at the University of Pennsylvania, said the reaction to the Pope’s death shows how far these groups have drifted from mainstream Christianity.

“We’re seeing people who call themselves Christians behaving in a way that’s not just un-Christian — it’s inhumane. It’s about vengeance. It’s about power.

It has nothing to do with Christ.”

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The backlash to the celebrations has been swift. Prominent Christian voices, including evangelical leaders who once supported Trump, spoke out against the comments. Pastor Tim Keller’s widow, Kathy Keller, called the online reactions “a spiritual tragedy.” She added, “We may disagree with the Pope on theology, but no true Christian should ever rejoice in someone’s death.”

Meanwhile, social media platforms are being criticized for allowing the hateful posts to spread unchecked.

Although X’s content moderation policies have been weakened under Elon Musk’s leadership, critics argue that posts celebrating death violate basic decency and should be removed.

“This isn’t about free speech,” one user wrote. “It’s about common human dignity.”

The incident is raising broader questions about the future of American Christianity, and whether the faith can survive its growing entanglement with political extremism.

Some analysts worry that the loudest voices now dominating the conversation are those least interested in preserving the core values of the religion — compassion, humility, and forgiveness.

As the Catholic world prepares for the election of a new Pope, the divide remains stark. On one side, millions are mourning a spiritual leader who dedicated his life to justice and mercy.

On the other, a fringe — but increasingly vocal — movement sees his death as a victory.

It’s a chilling reminder of how far some corners of the internet have drifted from empathy, and how faith, when hijacked by politics, can become a tool for hate instead of healing.