During a visit to an art fair at the Cordoaria Nacional in Lisbon, the President of Portugal conveyed that he has sent a message on behalf of the Portuguese people to the new Pope. The message offered congratulations and highlighted the longstanding, historical relations between the Holy See and Portugal, acknowledging the Catholic Church’s role throughout human history.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa noted that the selection of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who also holds Peruvian nationality, came as a surprise. He remarked that, at first glance, the choice seemed logical.
The President emphasized the Cardinal’s American roots, tempered by his Latin American influence due to his time in Peru, and described him as being deeply concerned with peace and open to ecumenical dialogue and the world at large.
“It suggests a commitment to being a continuation of Pope Francis, being close to him in recent years—not as prominently mentioned as some other names, but nonetheless opening to a whole new world, the Americas,” he said.
The head of state highlighted that the new Pope, at 69 years old, is relatively young, suggesting a potential for a long pontificate.
Rebelo de Sousa expressed that the decision by the Catholic Church’s electing cardinals aligns with the idea of rotating papal choices across continents, rather than Europe consistently selecting popes.
“There was much speculation about whether the next Pope would be Asian or African. This time it wasn’t,” he remarked.
The President noted that the cardinals chose someone very close to Pope Francis due to Cardinal Prevost’s recent service in the Roman Curia, where he was appointed by the Pope to lead the ministry of bishops.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa anticipated that the new Pope would emerge from the “small group” of cardinals well-known in Rome, who are familiar to all bishops and cardinals.
“It could have been [José] Tolentino [de Mendonça] among others, and it could also have been him, only no one thought it could be him,” he added.
When asked if he thought U.S. President Donald Trump might be pleased with the election of an American Pope, Rebelo de Sousa replied, “I don’t know; I haven’t thought about it.”
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, aged 69, was elected Pope by 133 cardinal electors after two days of conclave and has taken the name Leo XIV.
White smoke emerged today from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, signaling the election of a new Pope just after 18:00 local time (17:00 in Lisbon). The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out, announcing the new leader of the Catholic Church.
[News updated at 21:14]
