President Donald Trump has congratulated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his historic election as the first American pope, hailing it as a “Great Honor” for the United States.
Prevost, 69, who has taken the papal name Pope Leo XIV, was elected on Thursday, May 8, becoming the first U.S.-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. 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!”
Earlier, Trump had said he had “no preference” regarding the outcome of the papal conclave, but he sparked controversy among some Catholics after sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on social media.
Born in Chicago, Prevost studied at Villanova University before serving as a missionary in Peru. His background as both an academic and missionary earned him widespread respect in ecclesiastical circles.
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month after more than a decade of leadership that reshaped the global Catholic Church, particularly through his strong advocacy on issues such as climate change and social justice.
The election of an American pope marks a historic turning point for the Vatican and the more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
