President Donald Trump has hailed the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American ever to hold the position, as a “great honour” for the United States.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump congratulated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected as the 268th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church following the conclave of cardinals in Vatican City.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our country,” Trump wrote.
“I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” he added.
Cardinal Prevost, a native of Chicago and a member of the Order of St Augustine, is widely respected for his pastoral experience, theological depth, and diplomatic finesse.
Before his election, he served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key Vatican role overseeing the selection of bishops around the world.
His leadership and deep understanding of both the Church’s traditions and its modern challenges made him a frontrunner among the cardinals gathered for the conclave.
Prevost was elected following the death of Pope Francis, whose decade-long papacy was marked by efforts to reform Church governance and engage with contemporary global issues.
Taking the name Leo XIV, Cardinal Prevost becomes not only the first American pontiff but also the first to choose the name Leo in more than a century to honour the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, known for his intellectual rigour and commitment to social justice.
