World leaders offer congratulations to newly elected Pope Leo XIV, 1st American pope

World leaders have congratulated Pope Leo XIV, the first American to be elected Pope.

After two days of voting, the Papal Conclave elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new leader of the Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore announced that on May 8 at 6:06pm (Rome time), the 133 cardinal electors chose 69-year-old Prevost as the 267th Pope.

"The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore gives thanks to almighty God for blessing us with a new Vicar of Christ."

Americans react

U.S. President Donald Trump took to his social media platform to congratulate the new Pope, stating it was "such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope."

"What excitement and what a great honour for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also congratulated the new Pope.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered his "heartfelt congratulations", adding that the U.S. looks forward to "deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff."

Former U.S. President and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama congratulated Pope Leo XIV, stating it was "a historic day for the United States."

World leaders

In a tweet, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hopes for "continued moral and spiritual support" from the Vatican.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue", the Moscow Times reported.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Pope Leo XIV's election a "momentous moment". He added that he looks forward to meeting the new Pope and continuing to work closely with the Catholic Church in the UK and internationally.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the election "a historic moment" for the Catholic Church.

"May this new pontificate be one of peace and hope."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Pope Leo in a tweet and wished "the first Pope from the United States success in fostering hope and reconciliation among all faiths".

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Born on Sep. 14, 1955, in Chicago, U.S., Pope Leo XIV spent most of his childhood with his family.

He then studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers before earning a Degree in Mathematics in 1977 at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

At 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

He was later ordained as a priest in Rome on Jun. 19, 1982.

When he was 30, he moved to Peru as part of an Augustinian mission and spent a decade there as a local parish pastor and teacher before becoming a Peruvian citizen in 2015.

He served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was subsequently made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis.

Speaking on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, an hour after white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish.

He paid tribute to his predecessor, urging the faithful to remember the late Pope Francis' legacy.

He then thanked the cardinals for electing him as the new head of the Catholic Church, before spreading the message of peace and unity.

He called for the Church to be one that "builds bridges" and engages in dialogue.

Top photo via AFP