The U.S. President Donald Trump and a host of top American leaders have celebrated the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, as Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time in history that an American has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
The announcement, made by the College of Cardinals on Thursday, came on the second day of the papal conclave in Vatican City following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV now stands as the first pontiff from both the United States and the North American continent, a monumental shift in the Church’s centuries-old tradition.
President Trump hailed the news as a “tremendous privilege” for the nation. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his admiration and excitement: “It is such a privilege to know that he is the first American pope. What excitement, and what a significant honor for our nation. I eagerly anticipate meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be an incredibly meaningful occasion!”
Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, also congratulated the new pope, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “Millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his success in leading the Church. May God bless him!”
The sentiment was echoed across political lines. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a practicing Catholic, prayed for wisdom and strength for the new pontiff. “May God bestow upon him wisdom, courage, and grace as he undertakes his holy ministry,” he said.
Former President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, issued a heartfelt message with his wife Jill, writing, “Habemus papam, May God bless Pope Leo XIV from Illinois. Jill and I extend our congratulations and wish him success.”
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Barack Obama, who spent most of his political life in Chicago, released a joint statement with former First Lady Michelle Obama, calling Pope Leo XIV “a fellow Chicagoan” and “a role model for many, irrespective of their faith.” Obama described the pope’s election as “a landmark moment for the United States,” adding that the nation would hold him in their prayers.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joined the chorus of accolades, noting that “the first American leading the Catholic Church” represents a “historic moment.” In a message on X, he wrote, “Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV represents a new era that I join others in our state to welcome at a time when compassion, unity, and peace are in great need.”
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson also reacted with enthusiasm, declaring it “a day of joy and spiritual pride for the city.” He has reportedly begun informal advocacy for a papal visit to Chicago in the near future.
With Leo XIV now seated as the spiritual head of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, the significance of this moment resonates far beyond Vatican City. His Chicago roots have electrified American Catholics, and his election is widely viewed as a symbol of unity in a time of global turbulence.