Pope Leo XIV: ‘I Think More of Myself as a Pope Who Happens to Be American’

EXCERPT:

POPE LEO XIV: "Well, first of all, just to clarify, I think of myself more as the pope who happens to be American. Not to belittle what it means to be American. I was born in the United States, my family is still in the United States. I have great love for America. But I understand my mission as having a very important dimension, which is precisely being pastor of a universal church and having a voice and an opportunity to speak to people throughout the world. So, I will put things in that order. And yet at the same time, I will acknowledge for myself, as well as the people of the United States, judging by the response that we've seen since May 8th of last year, that there is great significance in being the first American pope."