President Donald Trump has responded to the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s history. The new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, was elected Thursday after a two-day conclave and overwhelming support from the College of Cardinals.
Trump, who previously joked online about wanting to become pope himself—complete with a meme depicting him in papal robes—had nothing but praise for the decision. Posting on Truth Social, he congratulated Prevost and called it “a Great Honor for our Country,” adding that he looks forward to meeting the new pope.
Pope Leo XIV brings decades of experience from his time as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru and as head of the Order of Saint Augustine. His election marks a significant moment not only for American Catholics but also for the global Church, which has never before seen a pontiff from the United States.
While some on social media poked fun at Trump’s earlier tongue-in-cheek papal aspirations, his official tone was warm and diplomatic. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,” Trump wrote, “What excitement!” His message joins a chorus of global leaders reacting to one of the most historic moments in modern Catholicism.
