In the first reactions, politicians worldwide want the new Pope to contribute to reconciliation. He should bring hope and orientation for the faithful.
After the announcement of the name of the new Pope, US President Donald Trump was one of the first congratulators. “What a surprise and what a great honor for our country,” Trump wrote on his social media channel Truth Social. He is looking forward to a meeting with Pope Leo XIV .. “It will be a very meaningful moment,” said Trump.
The first reactions quickly came from Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated the new Pontifex on his choice. For many people, the Pope is “an anchor for justice and reconciliation.” Merz wished him “a lot of strength, health and God's blessing”. According to the Chancellor, the people in Germany look at the Pontificate of Leo XIV “with confidence and positive expectation”.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a statement: “Dilige et quod vis fac”. “Love and do what you want.” This Augustinian wisdom may give them the inner strength and faith, just as Leo the Great as the theological thinker and a skillful diplomat to lead the church into the future and like Leo XIII. to find an answer to the social issues of modernity.
Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul said that he hoped that the new Pope will be heard in the tense world situation. With him, 20 million German Catholics had a new spiritual head, the CDU politician wrote on the Blue Sky platform. “Every Pope is the voice of worldwide Christianity. I wish him and all of us heard, because we Christians have to occur in the current world situation for connection and reconciliation”.
Congratulations from numerous EU countries
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the new Pope. “We wish that his pontificate may be guided by wisdom and strength while he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world through his commitment to peace and dialogue,” said of the Leyen on the X., which jointly published by EU Council President António Costa and the Leyen, it continues that they are confident that Pope Leo XIV will use his voice on the world stage, to promote these common values.
France President Emmanuel Macron called the election of the US cardinal to the Pope a “historical moment for the Catholic Church. He hoped that the new pontificate will bring peace and hope, Macron wrote on X.
Polish President Andrzej Duda in online service X expressed the willingness to further strengthen “the unique gang” between Poland and the Catholic Church – “in the name of joint values, responsibility for the common good and strengthening peace in the world”.
German Bishops' conference hopes for continuity
The Catholic German bishops hope that the new Pope will “lead the Church” with courage, humility and wisdom – with confidence in the gospel and in the spirit of fraternity, as Pope Francis has lived “. “In a time of great upheavals and challenges, the Holy Spirit worked again and gave the World Church a new shepherd, according to the bishops' conference on the platform X. The bishops wanted to accompany the new Pope with their prayer.” May his service become a blessing for the church and for the world, “it said.
Congratulations were also from the Evangelical Church of Germany. The council chairwoman Kirsten Fehrs wished the head of the church “God's rich blessings and every day all the presence of mind that strengthens trust in the church and its worldwide cohesion”. She hoped that strengthening the ecumenical community with other denominations for the Bishop of Rome may still have a high priority.
Hope for strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians
The Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an “expansion of relationships between Israel and the Holy Stuhl and a strengthening of friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and all over the world”. At the same time, he wanted to be from the pontificate of building bridges and the mutual understanding between all religions and peoples.
Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj grabbed the new Pope and expressed hope of continuing support for the Vatican in the Russian War of Agency. The Ukraine appreciates the consistent attitude of the holy chair to maintain international law, to convict Russian aggression against Ukraine and to protect the rights of innocent civilians, wrote Selenskyj on the platform X. He wish Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration and strength and added the Latin congratulations “ad Multos Annos!” on – which means “for many years”.
A congratulatory telegram came from Moscow: In the letter published by the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin confidently commented that “the constructive dialogue and the interaction between Russia and the Vatican on the basis of Christian values that connect us will develop further”. At the same time, he wished the new Pope every success in fulfilling the high task entrusted to them as well as health and well -being. “
