Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who has made history as the first American to lead the Catholic Church, and I join the world in prayer for the Holy Father’s enlightenment, strength and health as we enter this new chapter. 

In his final Easter blessing, Pope Francis called on all of us to show compassion to the world’s most vulnerable. In this moment of moral urgency, I pray that Pope Leo XIV carries on this legacy and serves as a beacon of hope and a bridge-builder for years to come. 

May God bless Pope Leo XIV, the Holy See and communities of faith around the world. 

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