U.S President, Donald Trump has extended warm congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, newly elected as Pope Leo XIV, the first American in history to ascend to the papacy.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump said in a statement released shortly after the Vatican’s announcement.
“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Trump’s message joins a chorus of reactions pouring in from global leaders and dignitaries who welcomed the election of the Chicago-born prelate as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church, not only because of his American roots but also due to his long-standing missionary work in Latin America, his reformist credentials, and his reputation as a bridge-builder within the Church.
Other world leaders, including former U.S President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also issued messages of goodwill, pledging support for the pope’s spiritual leadership amid turbulent global times.
