Thu May 08 19:56:47 UTC 2025: ## American Cardinal Elected Pope Leo XIV, Drawing Global Congratulations and High Expectations

**Vatican City** – In a historic first, US Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, sparking a wave of international congratulations and anticipation. World leaders from across the political spectrum offered their well-wishes, highlighting the significance of the first American to hold the papacy.

Prevost’s election has generated considerable discussion about his potential impact on key issues facing the Catholic Church and the world. His past social media criticisms of US Vice President JD Vance, contrasting sharply with the late Pope Francis’s final meeting with Vance, hint at a potentially different approach to issues such as immigration, poverty, and conflict. While the new Pope has yet to publicly comment on the situation in Gaza, the small Christian community there expressed hope he would continue Pope Francis’s support.

Reactions from world leaders were varied but largely positive: Brazilian President Lula da Silva expressed hope for a continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy of peace and social justice; Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador highlighted Prevost’s Latin American roots and expressed hope for support for Latin American migrants; French President Macron offered a message of fraternity; while Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán simply stated, “We have a pope! There is hope!” Other leaders, including those from Italy, Peru, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine, and the UK, also offered their congratulations, many emphasizing peace and global cooperation. Even US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance extended their congratulations. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated the election of a fellow Chicagoan to the papacy.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world needs strong voices for peace and social justice, expressing his hope for continued cooperation between the UN and the Holy See.

Pope Leo XIV’s papacy begins at a time of significant global challenges, and his leadership will be closely watched by Catholics and the world at large.

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