Following the announcement of Pope Francis’ successor, former President Donald Trump responded with characteristic flair—first joking that he wanted the role himself, then offering his congratulations.
Pope Francis passed away last month at the age of 88 at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. Speculation quickly spread about who would succeed him, with eight cardinals emerging as frontrunners.
Earlier today, the Vatican announced that 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost had been elected as the new pope, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. This historic moment marks the first time an American has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
In typical Trump fashion, the former president posted a mock image of himself dressed as pope to Truth Social, poking fun at the idea that he might take on the role. But his official response struck a more gracious tone.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump wrote. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. 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!”
Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023. He also led the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013.
The announcement was made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica following the conclusion of the secretive conclave, where a select group of cardinal electors—typically limited to 120 of the over 240 global cardinals—chose the next spiritual leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
Welcome, Pope Leo XIV (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Cardinals are also only allowed to vote if under the age of 80.
And under Michelangelo’s ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a reported 138 eligible voters had their say, voting up to four times a day for the past two days ultimately leading to a majority of two-thirds to vote in favor of Pope Leo XIV.
