Pope Francis is not expected to veto President Donald Trump's choice of a high-profile critic of his papacy as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, according to two senior Vatican officials, despite misgivings about his stance on many issues.

Vásquez was most recently selected by Francis to oversee the Diocese of Tyler, also in Texas, after he dismissed its former bishop, Joseph Strickland, who had openly accused the pope of being a heretic and called into question the validity of his leadership.

Pope Francis on Monday offered well-wishes to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in a traditional message sent ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony in Washington.

The Catholics surrounding Trump’s second term are best represented by his vice president, JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism and embraced family-oriented and conservative policies, echoing a general trend of young U.S. Catholic men shifting rightward.

Francis previously said that Trump cannot be a Christian if he plans to build a wall to keep migrants from Mexico out.

The pope’s comments provided the latest indication of a potential rekindling of frictions between the Vatican and the next Trump White House.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a “disgrace,” as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling him “not Christian” for wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a “disgrace,” as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling

Praying for the president does not mean that you endorse everything he says and does. Prayer means that you are asking God to direct him to paths of justice and peace, to give him the wisdom necessary to do his job. You are asking God to help him fulfill his oath of office and seek the common good.

After the pope criticized Trump's deportation plans, MAGA figures have suggested deporting illegal migrants to Vatican City.

ROME — Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a “disgrace,” as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling him “not Christian” for wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.