President Donald Trump extended his congratulations to Robert Francis Prevost following his election as pope on Thursday, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first American-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Prevost, who hails from Chicago and is 69 years old, will take on the name Pope Leo XIV.
“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
“What excitement and what a Great Honor for our Country,” the president added.
Trump expressed anticipation about meeting Pope Leo XIV, viewing it as a significant occasion.
However, the new pontiff has previously voiced criticism towards the U.S. leadership and its policies.
A verified X account associated with Prevost flagged an article in February that criticized Vice President JD Vance, who has been a Catholic since 2019, for his interpretation of biblical teachings.
The headline of the shared article read: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
In April, the same account reposted a message targeting Trump for his administration’s approach to mass deportations.
The tweet included a quotation from Bishop Evelio Menjivar, which read: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” This quote was from an article published in the Catholic Standard titled, “This Ordeal is the Passion.
Prevost was elected during the second day of a conclave held at Vatican City, where the cardinals selected the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, signaled by white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
Shortly after attending Francis’ funeral in Rome, Trump quipped to reporters that he would “like to be pope.”
The former president later shared an AI-generated image of himself clad in papal attire, which attracted criticism.
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