--- title: Trump Inauguration: Pope Francis Sends a Formal Message description: Pope Francis sent Donald Trump a message on the day of his inauguration as the 45th President of the United States canonical: https://time.com/4641201/pope-francis-donald-trump-inauguration-message/ author: Mahita Gajanan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-20T18:13:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:14:12.247Z article:section: Politics og:title: Pope Francis Has an Inauguration Day Message for President Donald Trump og:description: America will be judged "by its concern for the poor" og:url: https://time.com/4641201/pope-francis-donald-trump-inauguration-message/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltade5e9b2c03e2ec6/6988b663656a3f3ae1bce761/pope-francis-donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Pope Attends His Weekly Audience og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Pope Francis Has an Inauguration Day Message for President Donald Trump twitter:description: America will be judged "by its concern for the poor" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltade5e9b2c03e2ec6/6988b663656a3f3ae1bce761/pope-francis-donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Pope Francis Has an Inauguration Day Message for President Donald Trump > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f1da7c59-f29f-445b-8179-4cfc31bdf2fd&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch President Trump's Inaugural Address [Watch (HLS stream): Watch President Trump's Inaugural Address](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/bL9xqRfb.m3u8) (3:46)  _Published 2017-01-20. Donald Trump delivered his first speech as President of the United States on Friday morning._ by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jan 20, 2017 6:13 PM UTC by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jan 20, 2017 6:13 PM UTC [Pope Francis](http://poy.time.com/2013/12/11/person-of-the-year-pope-francis-the-peoples-pope/) sent [Donald Trump](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2016-donald-trump/) a message on the day of his [inauguration](http://time.com/4640703/donald-trump-inauguration-day-2017/?xid=homepage) as the 45th President of the United States. The Pope said he hopes that under Trump’s leadership, “America’s stature \[will\] continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor.” “At a time when our human family is beset by grave humanitarian crises demanding far-sighted and united political responses, I pray that our decisions will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation’s commitment to the advancement of human dignity and freedom worldwide,” he wrote. The message was issued by the Vatican shortly after Trump’s swearing-in ceremony on Friday. Read it in full below. > [](https://twitter.com/maryshovlain/status/822496017350279168) ## Transcript Every four years we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power. And we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the gracious aide throughout this transition. They have been magnificent, thank you. [ APPLAUSE ] Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning, because today we are not merely transferring power From one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you the people. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished But the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. We've made other countries rich, while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon. But that is the past. And now, we are looking only to the future. [ APPLAUSE ] We assembled here today or issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first. America first. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate complete from the face of the Earth [ APPLAUSE ] At the bedrock of our politics, we'll be a total allegiance to the United States of America and thru our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes Together we will make America great again. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you. God bless America. 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