The announcement of the appointment of the American Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo Xiv has aroused excitement from the world, with leaders from numerous countries congratulating them.
Prevost's promotion was the first person to rise from the United States to the highest position in the Catholic Church, and also sparked discussions on what his tenure meant to the leadership of the church on many issues, including immigration, war, poverty and inequality.
The new pope has previously posted social media criticism of U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to pass @NCronline
- Robert Prevost (@drprevost) February 3, 2025
The late Pope Francis met Vance in his last hours, and he was said to have condemned him for his government's efforts to target immigrants and the poor.
Pope Francis was also a staunch advocate of the Palestinians and regularly contacted Catholics in Gaza during Israeli attacks. Pope Leo XIV has not spoken publicly about Gaza, and it is unclear whether he will follow his predecessor.
Here are some reactions from world leaders so far:
President Javier Milei: “The power of heaven has clearly been verdicted.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: “I would like to greet the American Cardinal Robert Prevost, chosen today to lead the destiny of the Catholic Church, with the name of Leo XIV. I hope he continues the legacy of Pope Francis, whose main virtues were the incessant search for peace and social justice, the defense of the environment, dialogue with all peoples and all religions, and respect for the diversity of human beings. We do not need wars, hatred and intolerance. We need more solidarity and more humanism, we need love for our neighbors, which is the basis of Christian doctrine.
President Gustavo Petro: "The New Pope Leo XIV is not just American. His direct ancestors are Latin: Spanish and French, who lived in our Latin America, Peru, for 40 years. I hope he wants him to be an immigrant people around the world, and I hope he can encourage our Latin American immigrant brothers and sisters to work hard to make them within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their sphere, and they are within their
President Emmanuel Macron: "The Catholic Church and its millions of faithful historical moments. To Pope Leo XIV, to all Catholics in France and around the world, I have expanded my brotherly message. On May 8, may this new sprawl be one of peace and hope."
Prime Minister Viktor Orban: "We have a pope! There is hope!"
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: "I have initiated my most sincere wish to Pope Lion XIV. His words were the words of Loggia delle Benedizioni, a powerful appeal to peace, brotherhood and responsibility. Brotherly, brotherly sense of responsibility. The path and hope and hope pursued after Pope Francis and hope and hope.
President Joseph Aoun: “We pray to God to grant him health, well-being and wisdom to lead the church at this important stage in its history.”
President Claudia Sheinbaum: "We congratulate him on his Holy Leo XIV, elected by Cardinal College as the governor of the Vatican city and the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. I reaffirm our humanism’s integration of world peace and prosperity."
President Dina Boluarte: “President Dina Boluarte, on behalf of the government and the people of Peru, greets his Holy Rio XIV, the new pope of the Catholic Church.
Qatari diwan said in a statement that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent "congratulations" to Pope Leo.
President Vladimir Putin: "Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your election as Pope. I believe that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop to unite our Christian values. I hope you, holy, your holiness, successfully empower your health and wellness and good health and good health and good health and good health."
President Cyril Ramaphosa: “The election of Pope Leo XIV is a profound moment of respect for the legacy of the late Pope Francis, as well as the community around the world.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez: “Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the election of the new Pope Rio XIV.
Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “In our decisive moment in our country, we hope that the Vatican will provide further moral and spiritual support for Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve lasting peace.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "Pope Leo Fourteen's election is a time of deep joy for Catholics around Britain and around the world and begins a new chapter in leadership for the church and the world. Pope Leo is the first pope in the United States. It is an important moment. It is an important moment. Just as Pope Francis' role in particular is our professional, this is our professional, which makes our role introduce the development of our professionals. Change, alleviate poverty, and promote peace and justice around the world."
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “I sincerely congratulate his Holy Pope Leo and Catholics all over the world. The election of the new pope is a time of far-reaching spiritual significance for millions of faithful worlds in the world, a huge global challenge, our world is to build a strong peace. Promote solidarity, promote reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all in the process of nurturing the United Nations and the Roman Church (Pope Francis).
President Donald Trump: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has just been appointed Pope. It's an honor to realize that he is the first pope in the United States. What is excitement, an honor for our country. I look forward to meeting with the Pope's Leo Xiv. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Vice President JD Vance: "Congratulations to the election of the first Pope Leo Xiv in the United States! I'm sure thousands of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work. May God bless him!"
Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, USA, the birthplace of Prevost: "Everything, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV in the United States! We hope to welcome you home soon."