World leaders congratulate Pope Leo XIV, first American pontiff

The Vatican on Thursday revealed that Pope Leo XIV born Robert Prevost will take up the highest authority in the Catholic Church after only two days of deliberation and voting by the papal conclave Upon the announcement of the first American pontiff to be elected world leaders began reacting with their own messages of patronage and good wishes FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIVPresident Donald Trump took to his social media site to offer his congratulations and mentioned It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope What excitement and what a Great Honor for our Country he added I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV It will be a very meaningful moment Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson the current leader of Leo s hometown posted his excitement of the news on X and noted Everything dope including the Pope comes from Chicago Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV We hope to welcome you back home soon he added Italy s leader President Giorgia Meloni who was reportedly close with Pope Francis extended her greater part sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate In a time marked by conflict and unrest his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace brotherhood and responsibility she declared in reference to the central balcony at St Peter s Basilica A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis and that Italy looks at with respect and hope DAVID MARCUS POPE LEO XIV'S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS ALREADY CHANGING THE WORLDThe ruling body of Peru where Leo spent more than a decade serving in the Catholic Church and where he was appointed bishop in before getting his dual citizenship in offered its congratulations from President Dina Boluarte offering their fraternal greetings to the pontiff He served our people with love and faith In his first message as pontiff he recalled with emotion his time in Chiclayo and his closeness to Peru the declaration highlighted May God bless him in his mission Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the voting of the new Pope Leo XIV as Pontiff the President of Spain Pedro Sanchez the leader of the predominantly Catholic country stated on X May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world that requirements hope and unity A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful French President Emmanuel Macron reported To Pope Leo XIV and to all Catholics in France and around the world I extend a message of fraternity On this May th may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope he added in apparent reference to the th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST STATED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE TAKING NAME LEO XIVUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished Pope Leo congratulations along with wisdom inspiration and strength both spiritual and physical in carrying out his noble mission Ukraine deeply values the Holy See s consistent position in upholding international law condemning the Russian Federation s military aggression against Ukraine and protecting the rights of innocent civilians he continued At this decisive moment for our country we hope for the continued moral and spiritual assistance of the Vatican in Ukraine s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appointment of the first American pontiff a momentous moment and revealed The polling of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of elation for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon he added The President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo wrote on X We congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV elected by the College of Cardinals as Head of Vatican City State and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church I reaffirm our humanist convergence for world peace and prosperity she added