NEW: Trump congratulates Pope Leo XIV as first American to serve
“I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
President Donald Trump congratulated Pope Leo XIV as the first American pope to serve after he was elected by the College of Cardinals on May 8.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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!”
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Boston was elected to be the next pontiff, taking on the name Pope Leo XIV. He was born in 1955 and is 69 years old and was appointed by Pope Francis as a cardinal in 2023.
His election comes after Pope Francis’ death last month, who died April 21 early in the morning after suffering a stroke as well as heart failure.
Earlier on Thursday, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope had been chosen. After the white smoke billowed from the top, Pope Leo XIV emerged from the chapel where the formal announcement of the papacy took place.
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