HRES 412119th CongressIntroduced

Congratulating His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the first American pontiff.

Introduced: May 14, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This is a non-binding House Resolution (H. Res. 412) that congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the 267th pope and the first American to serve as the Roman Catholic Church’s pope. The resolution lays out biographical highlights and theological leadership attributes, emphasizing his American birth, Augustinian background, missionary work in Peru, multilingual abilities, and commitment to humility and service. It then expresses the House’s congratulations, recognizes the significance for American Catholics, commends his lifetime of service, and offers prayers as he begins his pontificate. The bill is ceremonial in nature and does not authorize spending or create legal obligations.

Key Points

1Purpose: Congratulate Pope Leo XIV on being elected the 267th pope and the first American pope.
2Background provided: Born in Chicago (1955), educated at Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, and served as a missionary and bishop in Peru; became Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and a Cardinal in 2023.
3Leadership and attributes: Described as humble, mission-focused, and devoted to service; the first Augustinian pope; multilingual (five languages) and able to read Latin and German.
4Historical significance: Highlights the milestone for American Catholics and continuity with Catholic social teaching and pastoral leadership.
5Congressional action: The House resolves to (1) congratulate, (2) recognize significance for American Catholics, (3) commend a lifetime of service, and (4) extend prayers as he begins his pontificate.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: American Catholic community and U.S.-Catholic relations; signals support from Congress.Secondary group/area affected: Public diplomacy and interfaith engagement; informs the broader public about U.S. appreciation for diverse religious leadership.Additional impacts: The resolution is ceremonial and symbolic, with no funding, policy changes, or legal requirements. It may influence ceremonial interactions between Congress and the Vatican and reflect U.S. values of religious leadership, humility, and service.

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