PM Modi Congratulates Pope Leo XIV; Reaffirms Commitment To Holy See

PM Narendra Modi congratulated Pope Leo XIV following his election as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi extended warm wishes and expressed India’s dedication to continued engagement with the Holy See.

PM Modi Congratulates Pope Leo XIV

Taking to X, PM wrote, “I convey sincere felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service. India remains committed to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further our shared values.”

Vatican Elects First American Pope

The Vatican conclave on Thursday elected 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope. He chose the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to head the Catholic Church. The Cardinals elected him after reaching a two-thirds majority in the Sistine Chapel.

Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced the news from the St Peter’s Basilica balcony with the traditional declaration, “Habemus Papam!” – “We have a pope.”

As white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, crowds erupted in cheers, signalling the election of the new leader.

Pope Leo XIV Delivers First Address As Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV greeted the crowd with a message of peace: “May peace be with all of you.” He added, “Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are.”

In his first address in Italian, he urged the faithful to let peace enter their hearts and homes.

He paid tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis and called on the Church to “move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.”

New Pope Thanks Cardinals; Recalls His Journey

Pope Leo XIV thanked the Cardinals for their trust and recalled his journey within the Church.

A former leader of the Augustinian Order, he presided over a Rosary for Pope Francis’s health during the latter’s hospitalisation in March 2025.

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Prevost is the son of Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez.

He has two brothers and studied Mathematics and Philosophy at Villanova University.

He entered the Augustinian novitiate in 1977 and took solemn vows in 1981.

Robert Prevost received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and later earned his licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

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