Shortly after making its first appearance on the Vatican balcony on Thursday, leaders around the world sent congratulations messages to the new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, 69, who chose the Papal Leo XIV name.
PREVOST, from Chicago but also Peruvian citizen, is the first American citizen to occupy the post of head of the Roman Catholic Church. There has long been a taboo against an American pope, given the geopolitical weight of the country in the secular sphere.
US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he is looking forward to meeting the new pontiff and said that it was “an honor to realize that he is the first American pope. What excitation, and what great honor for our country”.
vice-president Jd vance It is certain that “millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his work successful to direct the Church,” he wrote in an article on X.
A pontificate of peace
The pontificate of Pope Leo XIV seems to revolve around the theme of peace. In his first public speech of the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica, he described it as “disarming and humble and preserving peace, coming from God”.
“I would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all peoples, and all the earth: peace be with you,” added the pontiff.
This feeling has been reflected in many messages of congratulations from world leaders.
French president Emmanuel Macron called the pope's election a “historic moment” and hoped that “this new pontificate would be that of peace and hope”.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Also also called it an “important moment” and said that the Holy See “has a special role to play in the gathering of people and nations to solve the main problems of our time”.
“It's a deeply moving moment”, president of Poland Andrzej Duda said. “In Poland, we experience it with great emotion and hope.”
Time of conflict and disorders
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Congratulated the new Pope and said that his leadership came at a time when the “world is faced with deep challenges but also with great opportunities for unity, compassion and dialogue between peoples and confessions”.
And the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hoped that the pontificate could strengthen the “dialogue and the defense of human rights”.
“In a period marked by conflicts and troubles, his words of the loggia of blessings are a powerful appeal for peace, fraternity and responsibility,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia meloni wrote.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy Félicité Pope Leo XIV for his elections and said that he hoped “the Vatican's continuous moral and spiritual support in Ukraine to restore justice and reach lasting peace”.
“Ukraine deeply appreciates the coherent position of the Holy See in maintaining international law, condemning the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and protecting the rights of innocent civilians,” he added.
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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen hopes that the “pontificate of Pope Leo XIV will be guided by wisdom and strength, because he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world by his commitment to peace and dialogue”.
And António CostaThe president of the European Council, said that “in time of division and uncertainty, his spiritual direction can help inspire unity, compassion and peace”.
When he was asked how he interpreted the pontiff's message of a “disarmed and disarmed peace”, Costa told Euronews that the message was “moral”, but admitted “in this ideal world, we would not need weapons, because we would not have threats”.
“Unfortunately, in real life, there are threats. We have to defend ourselves. And what we have learned is that defenseless peace is an illusion,” he added.
ADVERTISEMENTUnited Nations Secretary General António Guterres said the world “needs the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and compassion”, and added that the UN is impatiently waiting to work with the Holy See “to advance solidarity, promote reconciliation and build a just and lasting world for all”.
