President Trump congratulates Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV as 267th pontiff

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The American President Donald Trump as wasted no time in congratulating Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has been elected at the end of the conclave on Thursday in the Vatican city as the new Pope made first pronouncement, “Peace be with all of you!”

The Chicago-born new pontiff will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

Trump in his message on social media stated, “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.”

The Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday.

His epoch making election marks the first time an American will lead the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV, 69, year-old said he wanted his message of peace as he said, “to enter your hearts, reach your families and all people, wherever they are.”

He thanked his fellow cardinals for selecting him, and spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin. Having spent years working in Peru, he thanked his former diocese in the South American country, “where a loyal people has shared its faith and has given a lot,” he said.

Late Pope Francis

He also spoke warmly, paid tribute to his predecessor late Pope Francis and concluded by leading the crowd in prayer and thankful to his former diocese.

The new pope appeared after white smoke streamed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling the 133 cardinals inside had elected a new pope.

A roar erupted from the crowd when they saw the white smoke, which was shown on several large screens in St. Peter’s Square. Enormous bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began to ring, tolling the news that the Catholic Church has a new pope.

The vote came on the second day of the papal election process known as the conclave. Church experts had named other possible candidates and had not expected an American to win the papacy.

Rome has been brimming with excitement, as thousands gathered near the Via della Conciliazione to be present for the historic moment when the new pope is announced and presented to the world.

Cardinals attend a Mass prior to the start of the conclave to choose a new pope, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Wednesday

The Chicago-born Prevost is seen as a reformer and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.

Even before his name was announced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the crowds below were chanting “Viva il Papa” – Long live the Pope.

Robert Prevost, 69, will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and he will be known as Leo XIV.

Being the first American to fill the role of Pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru, before becoming an archbishop there.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and a prior in his home city.

He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church.