EXCLUSIVE: Lawmakers Join To Congratulate Pope Leo On Historic Election As ‘First American Pontiff’

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a resolution to congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his “historic” election as the “first American pontiff,” The Daily Wire can first report.

The cardinals’ decision to choose Pope Leo as the leader of the Catholic Church surprised many, given that there has never before been an American pope. But his selection has also proved surprisingly unitive as American leaders and lawmakers come together to celebrate the honor done to their country by an American sitting on the Chair of Peter.

Led by Republican Blake Moore of Utah, the lawmakers will introduce the resolution Wednesday to honor and congratulate the pope. The resolution’s language will specifically celebrate Pope Leo as “the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church” as well as “the first American pontiff,” recognizing the significance of his election for the many American Catholics and Christians.

“I was thrilled to hear of Pope Leo XIV’s election to the Chair of St. Peter, and have felt a tremendous sense of national pride that an American now leads the Catholic Church,” Moore told The Daily Wire. “I pray the Lord blesses the Holy Father with the great wisdom and unyielding courage necessary to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The bipartisan group includes Democrat Thomas Suozzi of New York, who is the Democrat co-lead on the resolution, and Republicans Tom Barrett of Michigan, Ryan Zinke of Montana, Ann Wagner of Missouri, Michael McCaul of Texas, Rob Bresnahan, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Michael Rulli of Ohio, Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Lisa McClain of Michigan, John Rose of Tennessee, Brian Steil of Wisconsin, Mark Messmer of Indiana, Carolos Gimenez of Florida, Chris Smith of new Jersey, and French Hill of Arkansas.

“Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, marking a historic milestone for American Catholics and faithful Catholics around the world,” the resolution states, describing Pope Leo’s family as “a patriotic American family” who raised the pope in the Catholic tradition in Dolton, Illinois, “a working-class suburb where faith, family, and service formed the foundation of his life.”

The resolution praises the pope as embodying “a life committed to both intellectual and spiritual rigor” and a man who has lived out the Order of St. Augustine’s mission to be ‘‘of one mind and one heart on the way to God.” It also praises his work as a missionary and church leader in Peru, for his academic background and fluency in five languages, and his taking of the name Leo in honor of Pope Leo I (historically known as Leo the Great), “who championed Catholic social teaching and the dignity of work.”

“Pope Leo XIV has exemplified the humility and courage of a true servant of Christ,” the resolution states, “not seeking worldly acclaim but bearing witness to the Gospel in places where it is often ridiculed or rejected, reminding the faithful that a lack of belief often coincides with ‘the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.’”

And finally, the resolution emphasizes the new pope’s declaration that ‘‘the credibility of the Church does not come from popularity, but from fidelity’,” stating that this was the pope calling on “clergy and laity alike not to shape the Church in the image of the world, but to be conformed to Christ through truth, chastity, self-sacrifice, and Eucharistic love.”

“His first public words as pope from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica were ‘Peace be with all of you,’ setting the tone for a pontificate grounded in the unity, humility, and love of Christ, The Good Shepherd,” the resolution concludes.

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WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a resolution to congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his “historic” election as the “first American pontiff,” The Daily Wire can first report.

The cardinals’ decision to choose Pope Leo as the leader of the Catholic Church surprised many, given that there has never before been an American pope. But his selection has also proved surprisingly unitive as American leaders and lawmakers come together to celebrate the honor done to their country by an American sitting on the Chair of Peter.

Led by Republican Blake Moore of Utah, the lawmakers will introduce the resolution Wednesday to honor and congratulate the pope. The resolution’s language will specifically celebrate Pope Leo as “the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church” as well as “the first American pontiff,” recognizing the significance of his election for the many American Catholics and Christians.

“I was thrilled to hear of Pope Leo XIV’s election to the Chair of St. Peter, and have felt a tremendous sense of national pride that an American now leads the Catholic Church,” Moore told The Daily Wire. “I pray the Lord blesses the Holy Father with the great wisdom and unyielding courage necessary to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The bipartisan group includes Democrat Thomas Suozzi of New York, who is the Democrat co-lead on the resolution, and Republicans Tom Barrett of Michigan, Ryan Zinke of Montana, Ann Wagner of Missouri, Michael McCaul of Texas, Rob Bresnahan, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Michael Rulli of Ohio, Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Lisa McClain of Michigan, John Rose of Tennessee, Brian Steil of Wisconsin, Mark Messmer of Indiana, Carolos Gimenez of Florida, Chris Smith of new Jersey, and French Hill of Arkansas.

“Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, marking a historic milestone for American Catholics and faithful Catholics around the world,” the resolution states, describing Pope Leo’s family as “a patriotic American family” who raised the pope in the Catholic tradition in Dolton, Illinois, “a working-class suburb where faith, family, and service formed the foundation of his life.”

The resolution praises the pope as embodying “a life committed to both intellectual and spiritual rigor” and a man who has lived out the Order of St. Augustine’s mission to be ‘‘of one mind and one heart on the way to God.” It also praises his work as a missionary and church leader in Peru, for his academic background and fluency in five languages, and his taking of the name Leo in honor of Pope Leo I (historically known as Leo the Great), “who championed Catholic social teaching and the dignity of work.”

“Pope Leo XIV has exemplified the humility and courage of a true servant of Christ,” the resolution states, “not seeking worldly acclaim but bearing witness to the Gospel in places where it is often ridiculed or rejected, reminding the faithful that a lack of belief often coincides with ‘the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.’”

And finally, the resolution emphasizes the new pope’s declaration that ‘‘the credibility of the Church does not come from popularity, but from fidelity’,” stating that this was the pope calling on “clergy and laity alike not to shape the Church in the image of the world, but to be conformed to Christ through truth, chastity, self-sacrifice, and Eucharistic love.”

“His first public words as pope from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica were ‘Peace be with all of you,’ setting the tone for a pontificate grounded in the unity, humility, and love of Christ, The Good Shepherd,” the resolution concludes.

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