Louisiana leaders react after Robert Prevost elected as first American pope

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana leaders celebrated the election of Robert Prevost, the first pope from the United States.

The Chicago-born Prevost took the name Leo XIV. His first words from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica were “Peace be with you.” He emphasized a message of peace, dialogue, and missionary evangelization while wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy.

The newly elected Pope has ties to Louisiana. According to FindAGrave records, his maternal grandmother, Louise Baquie Martinez, was born in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 1868. She and his grandfather, Joseph Martinez, got married in New Orleans on Sept. 17, 1887. The couple moved to Chicago around 1911.

Reaction from Louisiana leaders

Gov. Jeff Landry congratulated Prevost in a post on X.

“This is a historic day. May his leadership be guided by faith, wisdom, and a deep commitment to the service of the Church,” Landry said.

Attorney General Liz Murrill called Thursday “a historic day” in a social media post.

“A historic day as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States was elected as the 267th Pope. I join Catholics across Louisiana and the world in congratulating and praying for Pope Leo XIV,” Murrill wrote.

Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, “Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. May God bless the first American papacy in these historic days.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy wrote, “The influence of the Catholic Church is felt throughout the world. In modern times, it has included John Paul II’s advocacy for the freedom of Eastern Europe from Soviet Russia and every pope’s strong stand for life. We pray that Pope Leo XIV provides the same level of moral courage and clarity for the Catholic Church and beyond.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Latest News