Pope Leo XIV Responds to Journalist's Question About His Message to the United States

The new pope made the comment while walking through a crowd after meeting thousands of journalists in Rome for the first time since his appointment.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, became the first North American pope following the death of Pope Francis. He assumed the post on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

On Monday, May 12, he followed a long-standing tradition when he met with thousands of journalists from around the world in Rome. He answered their questions and thanked them for covering the recently concluded conclave.

As he walked through a crowd of reporters afterward, NewsNation's Robert Sherman asked the Pontiff if he had a message for the United States.

Leo smiled, replying "Many." He then added, "God bless you all" as he continued walking through the crowd, shaking hands with reporters.

During the press conference, the Pope spoke about his stance on freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. He implied that these are values the international community must "defend at all costs."

He also spoke about the importance of being an informed society in order to make sound decisions on international policy. Throughout his time with the journalists, he repeatedly emphasized themes of unity and peace.

Pope Leo XIV previously made headlines when he called his brother, John Prevost, while the latter was in the middle of an interview. The Pontiff had called several times before John managed to call him back.

Their conversation marked the first time they had spoken since Pope Leo XIV's appointment. It was a historic moment—one that meant a lot to John, who acknowledged that they may not be able to speak as often as they used to.