President Trump Reacts to Catholic Church Picking the First American Pope in History

Published: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 6:58 pm

Trump Celebrates Historic Election of First American Pope

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born American, has been elected as the first-ever U.S. Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. President Donald Trump quickly took to social media to express his enthusiasm, congratulating the new pontiff and highlighting the significance of this milestone for the United States.

The news broke on Thursday, May 8th, when white smoke signaled the end of the papal conclave in Vatican City. Shortly after, the announcement of "habemus papam" ("we have a pope") was made, followed by Pope Leo XIV's first address to the crowd, offering a message of peace.

The 69-year-old Pope has a rich background, having been born in Chicago and holding dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru. He previously served in Peru and was appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023.

Trump's reaction comes after he playfully expressed interest in becoming Pope himself following the death of Pope Francis in April. While he didn't specifically endorse Cardinal Prevost before the election, he did hint at his preference for an American Pope, mentioning New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Dolan, who offered the invocation during Trump's second inauguration, was also a key figure in Pope Francis' funeral mass.

This historic election marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church and the United States, defying predictions from religious experts who considered an American Pope unlikely.

Keywords: President Trump, Cardinal Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, American Pope, Catholic Church, papal conclave, Vatican City, Chicago, Timothy Dolan, Pope Francis, religious news, habemus papam, U.S. Pope, first American Pope, Donald Trump reaction, papal election.

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