US Leaders React to Election of First American Pope

They praise the historic election of a pope from the United States.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony in Vatican City, Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

U.S. leaders on Thursday celebrated after an American pope was elected for the first time in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 6 p.m. local time, signaling a new pontiff had been chosen after just two days of conclave deliberations.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, emerged on the balcony to greet the large crowds in the Vatican City in his first public appearance as the Catholic Church’s new leader.

The new pope chose the name Leo XIV.

The Chicago-born cardinal spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru. In 2023, Pope Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican to lead the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, a role considered one of the most powerful positions in the Catholic Church. That prominence gave Prevost an advantage over other papal candidates going into the conclave.

President Donald Trump congratulated the new pontiff and expressed excitement over the first American pope.

“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social. “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!”

Vice President J.D. Vance also congratulated Leo on social media, although many users pointed out that as a cardinal, the pope had criticized Vance for his recent comments about the Catholic concept of  “ordo amoris,“ a term that translates to “rightly ordered love.”

Vance, during a discussion with Sean Hannity of Fox News, explained that the concept means family comes first, followed by neighbors, community, and then the rest of the world. Immigration policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over Americans don’t follow “ordo amoris,” Vance said.

In response, Prevost on Feb. 3 posted on social media platform X  that he disagreed with the vice president’s sentiment, writing: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”

Many experts considered the U.S. cardinal a dark horse in the election to become the next leader of the Catholic Church. Historically, cardinals have voted for leaders from European countries, and 217 popes out of the 267 popes were from Italy.

While the news of a U.S. pope surprised many Americans, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was proud that the new pope was born in his city.

“Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon,” Johnson wrote on X.

Prominent Americans, including President Joe Biden, wished the new pontiff success.

“Habemus papam—May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois,” Biden posted on X. Biden has often spoken about his close relationship with the late Pope Francis.

The new pope was elected by 133 cardinals who were sequestered in the Sistine Chapel during the voting process. The cardinals did not have any contact with the outside world during conclave deliberations and were sworn into secrecy as part of the papal election.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised the conclave of cardinals in a post on X as “one of the largest and most diverse conclaves ever.”

The longtime California congresswoman also applauded the new pope for echoing words spoken by Francis on Easter Sunday before he died.

“God loves everyone,” Leo said in his first public remarks as the new leader of the Catholic Church.

“Evil will not prevail; we are all in the hands of God,” he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a devout Catholic, described the historic moment as having profound significance for the Catholic Church and offering renewed hope for the 2025 Jubilee Year. In the Catholic Church, 2025 has been designated a holy year that represents a time of reflection and pilgrimage.

In a statement on the State Department website, Rubio said, “The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility. Jeanette and I are united in prayer for His Holiness, may the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.”

The new pope is now set to make a series of initial appearances.

According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the pontiff will celebrate Mass on Friday at 11 a.m. with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. He also plans to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica on May 11. Leo also plans to hold a press conference with the media on May 12 in the Vatican auditorium.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News