Barack Obama congratulates ‘fellow Chicagoan’ on becoming pope

Former US President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign event in support of US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 28, 2024. —File photo by Matthew Hatcher | Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON, United States — Former US president Barack Obama congratulated his “fellow Chicagoan” Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday on his historic election as the first pope from the United States.

“Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,” Obama said in a message on X.

“This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith,” he said.

READ: Robert Francis Prevost of US is new pope, takes name Leo XIV

Former President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, also took to X to send his best wishes to the new pontiff, who has chosen the papal name Leo XIV.

“Habemus papam – May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois,” Biden said. “Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.” /atm