The president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has extended warm congratulations to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, after his appointment on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
In an official statement published on Thursday night, El-Sisi transmitted his sincere congratulations and sincere desires “to the 69-year-old Pope, the expression of confidence in his leadership and moral vision.
“I wish his holiness all the success and prosperity in his blessed mission,” said El-Sisi. “I am completely sure that your holiness will carry out the legacy of the promotion of peace and love, defending noble values and ethics, and rejecting violence, hatred and war.”
Pope Leo XIV, former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, was chosen by the Cardinals College on Tuesday, becoming the 267 Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first of the United States. A centrist with progressive inclinations, is widely respected for his decades of pastoral work in Peru and for his role recently as head of the Vatican Dicastery for bishops.
In his message, El-Sisi emphasized the shared objectives between Egypt and the Vatican, particularly in the advancement of peace and interreligious understanding.
“I am pleased that we work together for a better marked world for peace, development, stability, tolerance and mutual respect,” said the Egyptian president.
Egypt is home to the largest Christian population in the Middle East, most of which belong to the Copta Orthodox Church. In recent years, the administration of El-Sisi has maintained strong ties with the Vatican, including the host of Pope Francis a historical visit to Cairo in 2017.
The choice of Pope Leo XIV has been with messages of support from world leaders and religious figures. Many see their appointment as a continuation of the inclusive and socially aware approach to Pope Francis, with renewed emphasis on global cooperation and dissemination in marginalized communities.
He
