'Such an honor': Trump issues statement after finding out new Pope is American

President Donald Trump gave his congratulations to the new pope, an American from Chicago, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

On Truth Social, Trump posted that he was looking forward to meeting the Holy Father.

"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!"

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The new pope addressed the crowd in St. Peter's Square about an hour after white smoke began billowing form the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away after giving an Easter Sunday address to the faithful outside the Vatican.