Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope on Thursday, taking the identify Leo XIV and making historical past as the primary American to steer the Catholic Church, succeeding the late Pope Francis.
Here’s how notable figures reacted:
CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON:
“Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago!”
LAWRENCE SULLIVAN, VICAR GENERAL, ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO:
“It’s a day of great excitement for Chicago, for the United States to have one of our own be elected pope.”
SISTER BARBARA REID, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION SCHOOL IN CHICAGO:
“Many of us were just simply incredulous and couldn’t even find words to express our delight, our pride.”
She referred to as the pope an excellent mental and an individual of extraordinary compassion, including, “It’s an unusual blend that makes him a leader who can think critically, but listens to the cries of the poorest and always has in mind those who are most needy.”
TAIWAN PRESIDENT LAI CHING-TE:
“Taiwan seems ahead to persevering with to work with the Holy See to collectively pursue peace, justice, spiritual freedom, solidarity, fraternity, and human dignity.
“Taiwan will continue to promote various exchanges and cooperation with the Holy See to further strengthen bilateral relations and make more contributions to the world together with the Holy See.”
ISRAELI PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG:
“We stay up for enhancing the connection between Israel and the Holy See and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians within the Holy Land and world wide.
“May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples. May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world.”
HAMAS STATEMENT:
“We congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election as head of the Catholic Church and stay up for his continuation of the late pope’s path in supporting the oppressed and rejecting the genocide in Gaza.
“We wish him success in fulfilling his spiritual and humanitarian mission amidst the tragedies and disasters afflicting the world today – foremost among them the ongoing brutal Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”
U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:
“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!”
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER:
“The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound second of pleasure for Catholics within the United Kingdom and globally and begins a brand new chapter for the management of the Church and on the earth.
“Pope Leo is the first American pope. This is a momentous moment. As Pope Francis’ papacy showed, the Holy See has a special role to play in bringing people and nations together to address the major issues of our time, especially on climate change, alleviating poverty, and promoting peace and justice across the world.”
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI:
“Italians will look to you as a guide and point of reference, recognizing in the pope and the Church the spiritual and moral authority that derives from its inexhaustible message of love, charity, and hope, which flows from the Word of God,” she mentioned in a letter to the pope.
GREEK PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS:
“Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. Your leadership comes at a time when the world faces profound challenges but also great opportunities for unity, compassion, and dialogue among peoples and faiths.”
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN:
“Please settle for my heartfelt congratulations in your election as pope. I’m assured that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will proceed to develop on the idea of the Christian values that unite us.
“I wish you, Your Holiness, success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON:
“A historic second for the Catholic Church and its tens of millions of devoted. To Pope Leo XIV, to all Catholics in France and world wide, I ship a fraternal message.
“On this May 8, may this new pontificate bring peace and hope.”
BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA:
“I hope he continues the legacy of Pope Francis, whose major virtues had been the incessant seek for peace and social justice, the protection of the setting, dialogue with all peoples and all religions, and respect for the variety of human beings.
“We do not need wars, hatred, and intolerance. We need more solidarity and more humanism. We need love for our neighbor, which is the basis of Christ’s teachings. May Pope Leo XIV bless us and inspire us in our ongoing quest to build a better and more just world.”
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO:
“We congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV, elected by the College of Cardinals as head of the Vatican City State and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. I reaffirm our humanist convergence in favor of peace and prosperity in the world.”
DINA BOLUARTE, PRESIDENT OF PERU:
“Born within the United States and naturalized Peruvian in 2015, His Holiness lived and served for years in our nation, the place he shared the lifetime of the folks with humility, love, and deep religion. His closeness to probably the most needy left an indelible mark in our hearts.
“The Peruvian people, a nation of faith and hope, unite in prayer for his pontificate and celebrate with gratitude that a pastor who loved Peru is now guiding the universal Church. May God bless him and accompany him in his mission!”
GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA:
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela congratulates with profound respect and hope His Holiness Leo XIV on his election as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, confident that his leadership will mark a new time of spiritual renewal, justice, and rapprochement among peoples.”
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO:
“The new pope, Leo XIV, is extra than simply an American. His fast ancestors are Latin: Spanish and French, and he lived 40 years in our Latin America, in Peru.
“I hope he turns into an excellent chief for migrants world wide, and I hope that he lifts up our Latino migrant brothers and sisters who’re presently being humiliated by the U.S. It’s time for them to prepare.
“May he help us build the great force of humanity that defends life and defeat the greed that has caused the climate crisis and the extinction of living things.”
ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT DANIEL NOBOA:
“We welcome Pope Leo XIV with hope in our hearts. May your word unite, comfort, and guide millions in times of uncertainty. Our prayers are with you from Ecuador.”
ARGENTINE PRESIDENT JAVIER MILEI:
“The forces of heaven have clearly given their verdict. No more words, Mr. Judge. End.”
CHANCELLOR OF AUSTRIA CHRISTIAN STOCKER:
“Habemus Papam! I congratulate Pope Leo XIV on taking this office that carries such great responsibilities and wish him much strength and wisdom for his pontificate.”
GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ:
“I warmly congratulate you in your election as head of the Catholic Church. Through your workplace, you provide hope and steerage to tens of millions of believers worldwide in these occasions of nice challenges. For many individuals, you’re a beacon of justice and reconciliation. In Germany, folks look to your hold forth with confidence and optimistic expectation.
“I wish you much strength, good health, and God’s blessing for the tasks that lie ahead of you.”
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ:
“Congratulations to the whole Catholic Church on the election of the new pope Leo XIV as Pontifex_en. May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity.”
VIKTOR ORBAN, PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY:
“We have a pope! There is hope!”
Source: www.dailysabah.com