Congressman Smith has expressed his support and prayers for Pope Leo XIV, who recently became the first American to be elected as Pope and the 267th successor of St. Peter. In a statement, Smith highlighted the importance of the papacy in providing moral leadership globally.
Smith acknowledged Pope Leo’s emphasis on peace, faith, humility, charity, and dignity for vulnerable populations. He quoted Pope Leo’s homily from earlier this year when he was known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: “God’s mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks—the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey’s end—because each bears Christ’s face.”
The congressman emphasized that by prioritizing the protection of life as a key humanitarian responsibility, Pope Leo reinforces a shared duty to care for unborn children and their mothers. Smith concluded by affirming continued prayers for Pope Leo’s vision of a Church focused on peace, charity, and support for those in suffering.
