MONROVIA – The mourning of millions of Catholics around the world triggered by the fall of Pope Francis must have watered away a bit when white smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signaling that a conclusive vote was held, giving them a new leader shepherd, Robert Prevost, a cardinal from the United States yesterday. He is the first US pontiff and takes the name Leo XIV, and in his first speech said the Catholic Church should “build bridges” and “welcome everyone”. It was a moment of mix feelings for Catholics as the new pontiff, chosen by 100 Roman Catholic cardinals in a secret conclave elected him, appeared. The Analyst has pieced together various exciting reports by a number of outlets as they unfolded on Thursday, May 9.
Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been selected as the next pope, the first American pontiff in history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. In his first remarks as pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he called for peace and paid tribute to the late Pope Francis to a roaring crowd.
Prevost, a 69-year-old from Chicago, is a leader with global experience. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and served as bishop in Peru. He most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
What it took to get elected
There were 133 voting cardinals and any one of them needed two-thirds of the vote to become the next pope. White smoke billowed above the Sistine Chapel earlier this afternoon signaling the selection of a new pontiff. Take a look at how the voting process worked.
Robert Prevost’s journey from Chicago to Peru to pontiff
Cardinal Robert Prevost attends the Fourth Novendali Mass in memory of Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Basilica on April 29.
Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955.
Prevost earned his bachelor’s in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
He was later sent to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University and was ordained as a priest in June 1982. Later in his career, he taught canon law in the seminary in Trujillo, Peru.
While it is often said cardinal electors would always shy away from choosing a pope from the US due to America’s outsized global political influence, Prevost’s long experience in Peru may have mitigated those fears among the electors.
“He’s somebody that, even though he’s from the West, would be very attentive to the needs of a global church,” said Elise Allen, CNN’s Vatican analyst. “You’re talking about somebody who spent over half of his ecclesial career abroad as a missionary in Peru.”
Allen added that he is seen as an apt leader in Vatican circles because “he’s able to accomplish things without necessarily being authoritarian about the way he did things.”
“Prevost is somebody who is seen as an exceptional leader. From very young, he was appointed to leadership roles,” Allen said. “He’s seen as somebody who is calm and balanced, who is even-handed, and who is very clear on what he thinks needs to be done… but he’s not overly forceful in trying to make that happen.”
Trump celebrates Pope’s Pick
Pope Leo XIV waves to the masses below in St. Peter’s Square.
President Donald Trump celebrated the news that the college of cardinals elected its first American pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, calling the news “a Great Honor for our Country.”
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump wrote. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Pope Leo XIV calls for church to build bridges and engage in dialogue, outlining Pope Leo XIV outlined his vision for the Catholic Church as one that “builds bridges” and engages in conversation.
“We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,” he said in his remarks on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica today.
The new pope also called on people to “show our charity” to others “and be in dialog with love,” according to an English translation.
In Spanish, Leo XIV greets his “beloved diocese” in Peru. He Leo XIV acknowledges the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday.
Having spoken in Italian so far, Leo XIV just switched to Spanish — one of several European languages he speaks — to address his “beloved diocese” in Peru.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, as he was known until this past hour, worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and served as bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, from 2014 to 2023.
“To my dearest beloved diocese in Peru, where a faithful people accompanied their bishop to share their faith with him, and who have done so much to be a faithful church,” he said.
Leo XIV called on the Catholic church to be a “synodal” church, “one which goes forward and which always seeks peace and to be close to those who suffer.” The new pope thanked his “cardinal brethren” for choosing him to be pope.
During his remarks in Pope Leo XIV thanked his fellow cardinals for choosing him to lead the Catholic Church.
“I should also like to thank all my cardinal brethren who have chosen me to be the successor of Peter and to walk with you as a united church. Always seeking peace and justice. Seeking to work with men and women who are faithful to Jesus Christ without fear to proclaim the gospel to be missionaries,” he said.
Leo XIV pays tribute to Francis in first words as pope
Newly elected Pope Leone XIV speaks to the crowd at St. Peter’s Square.
Andrew Medichini/AP
Addressing the crowd in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, urging the crowd to remember his predecessor’s legacy.
“Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter. Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail,” he said in Italian while addressing the crowd gathered at the Vatican.
“Peace be with you all,” says Leo XIV in first remarks as pope
In his first words as pope, Leo XIV said to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square: “Peace be with you all.”
“This is the first greetings of the resurrected Christ, the good shepherd who has given up his life for God,” he said, explaining the choice of his greeting. “And I should also like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts and our families.”
Leo XIV looked visibly emotional as he waved to the adoring crowd in the square below the balcony.
The Catholic world greets its new pope
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday.
Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, has just stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He will soon speak.
14 min ago
What we know about Robert Prevost, the first American pope
From CNN’s Lauren Kent and Christopher Lamb
Cardinal Robert Prevost leads rosary prayers in St Peter’s Square on March 3.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope and will soon step onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
A leader with global experience, he spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, right, receives his biretta from Pope Francis as he is elevated in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on September 30, 2023.
He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023. Prevost also holds a Peruvian passport and has been a Peruvian citizen since 2015.
In an interview with Vatican News shortly after he became the leader of the Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost said: “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.”
St. Peter’s Square is a sea of flags
Crowds cheer in St. Peter’s Square after the election of the 267th pope.
There’s tens of thousands of people packed into St. Peter’s Square right now — and dozens of flags representing countries across the world.
We’ve seen Italian, Argentinian, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Brazilian, Filipino and Polish flags, among many, many more.
All eyes are on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican spectator on the election of a new pope: “It’s an epic moment”
Francesca, a lawyer from Rome, told CNN that came to St. Peter’s Square today “Because it’s an epic moment.”
“It’s great this feeling to be here with a lot of people, religious and not. All the world is watching at the balcony, and we feel at the center of the world,” she said.
Asked if she has favorite cardinal in mind to lead the church, she said she does not. “It’s in God’s hand,” she added, and she said that no matter who is chosen, “we would be happy in any case.”
Francesca added that since the world and the church is divided in this moment, she hopes for someone who has the quality of reconciliation and diplomacy.
People are running through the streets of Rome to get to St. Peter’s Square
People in St. Peter’s Square react to white smoke from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.
As soon as the news of the white smoke spread through the Italian capital, some people began running through the streets of Rome to get to St. Peter’s Square. People continue to stream into the square from every alley that leads to the Vatican.
In the square itself, people are hugging and crying tears of joy.
While earlier the crowd was angling to get a good view of the Sistine Chapel chimney, they are now inching closer to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica where the new pope is expected to emerge any moment.
This balcony is where we’ll first see the new pope
The central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica is seen on Thursday.
The 267th leader of the Catholic Church will soon step onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and make himself known to the world.
First impressions count. When Pope Francis stepped onto the balcony in 2013, he did so dressed in simple white robes, shunning much of the papal pomp of his predecessors.
He chose “Francis” as his papal name in honor of Francis of Assisi, the Italian saint who renounced his family wealth and championed the poor.
Francis also addressed the crowd with the simple Italian greeting, “Buona sera,” meaning “good evening.”
Swiss Guard and band are marching through the crowd in St. Peter’s Square
The Swiss Guard marches through the crowd in St. Peter’s Square after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Among the cheers from the thousands in St. Peter’s Square who are celebrating the election of a new pope, the Swiss Guard and band are marching, adding to the vibrant and joyful atmosphere.
We’re seeing the Swiss Guard wearing their “distinctive, stripy colored uniform and the band that come out for major moments in the Vatican, and we expect them to play the Vatican national anthem in and around when the pope is announced, the new pope is announced,” CNN’s Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb said.
He added that the band and Swiss Guard’s presence might mean “that it’s not too long until we get the news of who has been elected as pope.”
Trump reacts to new pope signal: “I saw the smoke, but I haven’t seen the pope”
United States President Donald Trump took the stage at a White House event today shortly after white smoke out started streaming out of the Vatican chimney, a sign that the college of cardinals has selected a new pope.
“I saw the smoke, but I haven’t seen the pope,” Trump told reporters in the White House East Room.
Trump drew criticism after the White House account tweeted an AI-generated image of him dressed as a pope ahead of the papal conclave this week.
“We have a pope!” Pilgrims rejoice in St. Peter’s Square
The mood here is electric. People are rejoicing.
“We have a pope — yay!” Connie, from South Carolina, just said to CNN. “I’m so happy. It feels like the Holy Spirit is here.”
Connie said she hopes the next pontiff treads a similar path as Pope Francis by “helping the poor, fixing the world, helping the immigrants.”
Secret nature of conclave often leads to quick results
Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli closes the doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.
It’s not clear if the new pope was chosen on the fourth or fifth ballot of the conclave, but either way, the results came relatively quickly on the second day of the conclave.
“The first vote sets out where support lies, and then it very quickly becomes a two-horse race, because cardinals shift their support to leading candidates,” CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb said. “You do get a result swiftly when it comes to a secret ballot.”
The cardinal electors vote with folded ballots, which are shaken in an urn to mix them up and maintain secrecy.
And who the new pontiff is remains a secret for a little while longer — the new pope will be announced to everyone at the same time on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The past two popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, were also appointed on the second day of voting. Before them, John Paul II was appointed on the third day.
Three popes in a row have now been elected on the second day of conclave
Faithful gather at St. Peter’s Square after white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
The white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel means that each of the last three popes were elected in the afternoon of the second day of the conclave.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected after four rounds of voting; Francis was elected after five.
We still don’t know if the pope who was just chosen was elected at the fourth or fifth time of asking.
A great cheer of joy rings out in St. Peter’s Square
A person reacts as white smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.
We just heard a huge cheer of relief and joy as we saw the white plume of smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel.
After watching the chapel’s chimney for much of the past two days, all eyes will now turn to the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the new pope will soon make himself known to the world.
“Habemus papam” soon to be proclaimed
People gather in St. Peter’s Square as white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
We still can’t see inside the Sistine Chapel, but previous conclaves have taught us that the new pope will now be putting on the special papal garbs and taking a moment in a private room to compose himself before he is introduced to the world.
A cardinal will soon proclaim “Habemus papam,” a Latin phrase meaning, “We have a Pope.”
In this short speech from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, we’ll learn the identity of the cardinal who has been elected — and the papal name they have chosen.
Bells are tolling in St. Peter’s Square to hail election of new pope
People react as white smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica are ringing to welcome the news that a new pope has been elected.
The crowd in the Vatican’s main square burst into applause when the white smoke began to pour out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.
What’s in a name? How a new pope’s first act can define his papacy
Once a candidate receives more than two-thirds of the vote, he will be asked two questions by the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave.
First, “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”
Then, “By what name do you wish to be called?”
A pope’s choice of name can hint at the direction their papacy may take. The late Pope Francis chose his name in honor of Francis of Assisi, the Italian saint who renounced his family wealth and championed the poor. He was the first pope to choose Francis as his name.
Pope Benedict XVI, Francis’ predecessor, said he chose his name – which means “the blessed” in Latin – after Benedict XV, whom he said helped steer the church through World War I.
So, what name might the new pope choose? Take a look at our explainer.
American nuns in Rome say they notice “more people are talking about their faith”
A group of Dominican nuns from the US are among those awaiting the announcement of a new pope in Rome, where they told CNN they feel an atmosphere of unity driven by faith.
“There’s unity in Christ and that’s, you know, I think, yeah, here in Rome where the pope is the symbol of unity, of Christ on Earth, you feel that and sense that in a real way,” Sister Anne Catherine, of the Nashville Dominicans, told CNN.
“More people are talking about their faith,” Sister Mary, also of the Nashville Dominicans, added.
Watch more from CNN’s interview with the nuns:
“I’m here to see the smoke”: St. Peter’s Square starting to fill up once more as anticipation builds
People wait for news at St. Peter’s Square on Thursday.
Thousands of people are filing into the main square at the Vatican, as they look up at the chimney of the Sistine Chapel once again to learn whether the cardinals have elected a successor to Pope Francis.
The sense of anticipation here is building. Vatican Media says about 15,000 people are now in St. Peter’s Square.
It was in the afternoon session on the second day that Francis was elected in 2013.
“I’m here to see the smoke. It’s a great moment,” said Sergio Alfieri, a resident of Rome. “I hope it will be an Italian pope, (Cardinal Pietro) Parolin or (Cardinal Pierbattista) Pizzaballa. They are both very competent. I hope it will be someone that will continue Francis’ work.”
Why age could be a key factor in choosing the next pope
All sorts of things will be weighing on the minds of the 133 cardinals choosing the next pope.
Do they want the church to follow Pope Francis’ priorities, or do they favor a more conservative pontiff? Do they want a pope from an underrepresented part of the world, or are they content to shop among the Europeans — as has happened for most of the church’s history?
But age is also likely to be a key factor in the decision making process.
The 10 most recent popes were elected at an average age of 67. The last two popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, were relatively old by the standards of the 20th century, beginning their papacies in their 70s.
Benedict served for just under eight years, before stepping down aged 85, citing his poor health. He was the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
Before him, John Paul II became pope at the sprightly age of 58 and served for more than a quarter of a century until his death at the age of 84.
Vatican analysts have said the cardinals might choose to opt between these two extremes, and try to find a pope old enough that they won’t serve for decades, and young enough that they can lead the world’s Catholics with vigor.
How the selection of a new pope can have global political implications
Cardinals pray inside the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.
While the world waits for a new pope, experts are well aware the choice could have far-reaching political ramifications.
“Choosing a certain pope from a certain area of the world sends a certain kind of message,” Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University, told CNN’s “Conclave Watch” podcast.
Faggioli will also be watching how the new pope views the United States’ Trump administration following a letter Pope Francis sent to US bishops in February that appeared to rebuke President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.
“The Vatican… is worried of the manipulation of the church that happens in some countries that try to submit the church to political power,” Faggioli said.
What goes on in the shuttered Sistine Chapel? Here’s how voting works
Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli closes the doors of the Sistine Chapel, ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope at the Vatican, on Wednesday.
We can’t see what’s going on in the chapel, but the voting procedure follows a centuries-old tradition.
Nine cardinals would have been chosen at random to perform specific roles:
Three Scrutineers oversee the voting.
Three Infirmarii collect votes from those too sick to be in the chapel.
Three Revisers verify the results.
In order of seniority, the cardinals will walk to the table in front of the altar, where the Scrutineers sit, to cast their ballot.
After all ballots are cast, the first Scrutineer shakes the urn to mix them up. The third Scrutineer counts the ballots. If the number of ballots doesn’t match the number of electors, the ballots are burned and the vote is redone.
If the number is correct, the first Scrutineer unfolds the ballot, notes the name and passes it to the second Scrutineer.
The second Scrutineer notes the name and passes the ballot to the third Scrutineer.
The last Scrutineer reads the name aloud for all the cardinals to hear and records the vote. As the name is read out, the Scrutineer threads a needle through the ballot with the word “Eligo” (“I elect”) and secures it to the other ballots.
After reading out all the names, the cardinals learn if they have elected a new pope. For each round, the sewn-together ballots are placed in a third urn for burning.
The color of the smoke from that fire tells the world when there is a new pope.
A cry for peace in St. Peter’s Square as anticipation builds
As the world waits for white smoke, there’s growing hope in the square that tonight could bring a decision. But beyond the speculation, the emotion on the ground is clear – people are looking for peace.
CNN Vatican analyst Elisabetta Pique said this message has been visible in the crowd itself, as she said she spotted a young woman from Ukraine with a big sign that reads simply: “Peace.”
In a world that is “broken,” Pique said, “people want peace.”
“We are in a polarized world, we need someone that can connect with people and still give this message of hope,” she added. “People are looking for someone that gives them some sense of peace in themselves.”
Too old to vote in the conclave himself, the most senior cardinal bishop hopes for white smoke today Cardinal Giovanni Re officiates the Mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 26.
Cardinal Giovanni Re — the 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals, or the most senior cardinal bishop — said he is hoping that this evening will deliver the Catholic world its new pope.
Being over the age of 80, Cardinal Re is unable to vote in the conclave — but his influence is still being felt in it. He presided over Pope Francis’ funeral and the Mass before the conclave, where he delivered the central homily and made what seemed to be a Francisan call to cherish “diversity.”
“The unity of the Church is willed by Christ; a unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained,” Cardinal Re said during the service.
Speaking Thursday during a visit to Pompei, Cardinal Re said he hopes that when he returns to Rome this evening, he will find white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, CNN’s affiliate Sky TG24 reported.
He said the new pope “first of all must try to strengthen faith in God in this world of ours characterized by technological progress.”
“From a spiritual point of view, we have noticed a bit of ‘forgetting God,’” he added. “So there is the need for a reawakening.”
Playing cards and buying souvenirs: How people are passing the time in St. Peter’s Square
A group of young people play cards at St. Peter’s Square as they wait for news of a new pope on Thursday.
As the wait for white smoke continues in St. Peter’s Square, bystanders have found different ways to pass the time.
A group of young people could be seen sitting on the ground playing cards on Thursday, while others were browsing souvenir shops during moments of calm. Elsewhere, a nearby cafe functioned as a temporary resting spot for a group of nuns.
Around 15,000 people gathered in the square on Thursday morning, eagerly awaiting the possibility of a newly elected pope, according to Vatican Media.
For a second time, however, the smoke was black – meaning no pope has yet been chosen.
Pope Francis attends the Consistory at St Peter’s Basilica on February 22, 2014, where 19 new cardinals had been created in a ceremony in the Vatican.
More than four out of five of the cardinals who are selecting the next pontiff owe their positions to Pope Francis.
Of the 133 members of the College of Cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote in the conclave, Pope Francis installed 108. That’s more than 80% of the cardinals.
The conclave is “one of the most diverse that we’ve had in the history of the church,” Susan Timoney, a professor at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, told CNN ahead of today’s ceremonies.
During his 12-year papacy, Francis appointed more than 20 cardinals from countries that had never previously had a cardinal, nearly all from developing countries, including Mongolia, Laos, Papua New Guinea and Mali.
Since many of the cardinals appointed by previous popes turned 80 during Francis’ papacy, this “generation shift in the age of the cardinals” allowed him to appoint new members from different parts of the world, Timoney said.
Some have speculated that this could lead to the conclave appointing a successor that will continue Francis’ pastoral priorities.
“Eyebrows will start to raise” if voting goes into a fourth day, professor says
People stand on St Peter’s Square after black smoke billowed from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel, on Thursday.
If voting goes into a fourth day, “eyebrows will start to raise” about the possibility of division among the cardinals, according to an assistant professor of Catholic studies.
“It’s very possible that this will go into a third day,” Susan Reynolds of Emory University told CNN. “If it goes longer than a third day, then I think some eyebrows will start to raise about the suspicion of division amongst the cardinals.”
“Over the past century or so, conclaves have tended to last well under a week… the modern conclave tends to last three days on average,” she added.
Asked if the cardinals will be lobbying for their favorite pontiff during today’s lunch break, Reynolds said that “this is not a silent process… of course they are talking to one another.”
The third ballot brings no pope – all eyes on tonight
People at St. Peter’s Square wait to see smoke pour from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
This was the second vote of the morning – and the third ballot overall – confirming that the cardinals have not yet reached a consensus on who should be pope.
This is not unusual. Pope Benedict XVI was elected after four ballots, Pope Francis was after five and Pope John Paul II was after eight.
There is just huge anticipation, everyone at the Vatican is on chimney watch.
I imagine tonight there will be even more anticipation as they move into what will be the fourth and fifth ballots – the very rounds the last two conclaves produced a result. That alone will have people watching closely.
I do think it’s significant that they seem to have got through the morning votes much faster, they’ve got into their stride.
This has come in good time.
Former US presidents are congratulating Pope Leo XIV
Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, congratulated Leo in a post on X. “Habemus papam — May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois,” Biden wrote. “Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.”
George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “delighted to congratulate former Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election to the papacy,” calling it “an historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world,” according to a statement. He added: “We join those praying for the success of Pope Leo XIV as he prepares to lead the Catholic church, serve the neediest, and share God’s love.”
Barack Obama said in a post on X: “This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.” Obama, who famously got his political start in the Windy City, noted that Leo is a “fellow Chicagoan.”
Catholic senators react with excitement — and at least one expletive — to first American pope
US Catholic senators from both sides of the aisle were jubilant over the election of the first American pope on Thursday, with one senator even admitting that he swore when he first heard the news.
“Unfortunately, I swore — in a good way — that ‘this is beeping good,’” said Sen. Ruben Gallego, self-censoring himself in retrospect. “It’s kind of weird, obviously with talking about a holy person, to swear. I’ll ask for forgiveness later.”
“This is the first time that we’ve ever had an American pope, this is the second one from the Western hemisphere. I think it may help the church, I think, move more into the modern era and I think help it survive. I mean, it is going through tough times,” the Arizona Democrat added.
“I was a little surprised. I knew there was an American in the mix, but that has happened before and we have been let down, so I was pretty happy to see this. My staff and I were in the office around the TV to see the announcement,” the Democrat told reporters.
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