President Donald Trump embraced Robert Prevost’s election as the Catholic Church‘s next pope. Prevost is the first U.S.-born pontiff in history.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump said Thursday on social media. “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!”
During an impromptu press conference with reporters outside the West Wing, Trump revealed he has already spoken to Vatican City and said, “We’ll see what happens” regarding a meeting between the pair. He declined to answer a question about whether he regrets reposting an artificial intelligence-generated image of him as the pope.
Despite Prevost’s own reposts on social media of criticism of Trump and Vice President JD Vance being circulated after his election, Vance shared his own congratulations. Vance, himself a Catholic, met with Prevost’s predecessor, the late Pope Francis, last month in Vatican City.
“Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election!” Vance wrote. “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
It was announced that Prevost, 69, a Chicago native and Villanova University graduate, took the name Leo XIV shortly before he addressed the crowd in St. Peter’s Square after a two-day papal conclave following the death of Francis in April.
POPE LEO XIV: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST BECOMES FIRST-EVER AMERICAN PONTIFF
Prevost was a missionary who spent most of his career in Peru as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator before he was made a cardinal in 2023. Later that year, Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role that elevated his profile.
Earlier Thursday, after white smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, Trump was asked for his response to the new pope.
POPE LEO XIV: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST BECOMES FIRST-EVER AMERICAN POPE
“I saw the smoke, but I haven’t seen the pope,” Trump said.
Trump has underscored the importance of faith during his second administration, taking steps to address perceived anti-Christian bias.
