Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // Catholic Congressman Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., and Rep. Thomas Suozzi, D-N.Y., this week introduced a resolution officially congratulating Pope Leo XIV on his election as the first US-born pope.
The bipartisan resolution, posted May 14 on Rep. Moore’s X account, is titled “Congratulating His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the first American pontiff.”
“Pope Leo XIV has exemplified the humility and courage of a true servant of Christ, not seeking worldly acclaim but bearing witness to the Gospel in places where it is often ridiculed or rejected,” the resolution states, “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.”
The resolution celebrates the fact that the newly elected pontiff was born in the US, “marking a historic milestone for American Catholics and faithful Catholics around the world.”
It also praises Pope Leo’s “patriotic American family,” who raised the pontiff in a working-class suburb and taught him to value faith, family, and service.
The resolution also notes Pope Leo XIV’s work as a missionary in Peru, and his example of living out the Gospel in places where it is rejected or ridiculed.
The text states that the House of Representatives:
- Extends their prayers to Pope Leo XIV as he begins his pontificate and shepherds the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics with wisdom and grace.
- Congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first American to serve in this sacred role;
- Recognizes the historic significance of his election for the American Catholic community;
- Commends Pope Leo XIV for a lifetime of service, humility, missionary zeal, and commitment to embodying Christ’s mercy and pastoral care.
