US Leaders React to Election of First American Pope

They praise the historic election of a pope from the United States.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony in Vatican City on May 8, 2025. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

U.S. leaders on Thursday celebrated after an American pope was elected for the first time in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 6 p.m. local time, signaling a new pontiff had been chosen after just two days of conclave deliberations.