By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
UNITED STATES of America (USA) President Donald Trump has called the election of Pope Leo XIV “a great honour for our country,” after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago became the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
His announcement was delivered from the Vatican on Thursday by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, declaring “Habemus Papam” as Prevost, 69, emerged as the Church’s 267th pontiff.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who died last month after a 12-year papacy marked by reform and friction with conservative leaders, including Trump.
Trump posted a message to Truth Social shortly after the Vatican announcement, writing: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise 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!”
Outside the West Wing on Thursday, Trump confirmed that the Vatican had reached out to arrange a meeting with the new pope. “They’ve already called,” he told reporters. “We’ll see what happens.”
Prevost’s election is unprecedented in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago to a family of French and Italian heritage, he is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine and spent decades in Peru as a missionary, bishop, and Church leader.
His most recent roles included Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, both held since 2023.
Elevated to cardinal in 2023 and cardinal-bishop in 2025, Prevost is known for his pastoral focus on migrants and marginalised communities.
As pope, he has chosen the name Leo XIV, linking his reign to that of Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903 and was celebrated for his intellectual legacy and social encyclicals.
Vice President JD Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the US government, echoed Trump’s praise. “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church,” he wrote on X.
Yet the historic election unfolds under a shadow of past tensions. Pope Francis had repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration on issues like immigration, most recently in January when he condemned mass deportation plans as “a disgrace.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s team stirred controversy last week after sharing an AI-generated image portraying the president as pope. The former president dismissed criticism, saying, “The Catholics loved it.”
Despite the celebration surrounding Pope Leo XIV’s election, his record has not been without scrutiny. He has faced criticism for failing to adequately punish clergy accused of abuse during his time in Peru.
Still, many observers view his election as a pivotal moment — not only for American Catholics but for a global Church grappling with modernisation, accountability, and regional divides.
With roots in North America and decades of service in Latin America, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership signals both continuity and change at the heart of the Vatican.
