Following his historic election as the first American to lead the Catholic Church, leaders across the Middle East have congratulated Pope Leo XIV. Chosen by 133 cardinals, Pope Leo becomes the 267th pope, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away last month after a 12-year papacy.

From the UAE, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent his best wishes to the newly elected pontiff, expressing “warm congratulations and hopes for success in his spiritual mission.”

I extend my sincere best wishes to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his appointment as head of the Catholic Church and wish him success in continuing to promote mutual understanding, peace, and harmony throughout the world.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) May 8, 2025

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted the Vatican’s long-standing commitment to dialogue and peace. “We value the Vatican’s role in encouraging coexistence,” he said, adding that the UAE looks forward to greater interfaith cooperation under Pope Leo’s leadership.

We extend our congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election.

We in the UAE deeply appreciate the Vatican’s role in promoting dialogue and peace among nations and faiths, and we look forward to working together with His Holiness to advance a global message of…

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 8, 2025

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, also conveyed his congratulations, reinforcing the country’s dedication to shared human values.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi offered his “sincere wishes” to the Pope, expressing confidence in his mission to “promote peace and love” and “reject violence, hatred, and war.” President El-Sisi added that he looked forward to working together for “a better world marked by peace, development, stability, tolerance and mutual respect.”

پیرۆزبایی گەرمی دڵسۆزانە ئاراستەی پاپا لیۆ چواردەهەم دەکەم @drprevost بەبۆنەی هەڵبژاردنی وەک گەورەی قەشەکان و پاپای کڵێسای کاسۆلیکی و هیوای سەرکەوتنی بۆ دەخوازم لە جێبەجێکردنی ئەرکە مرۆڤدۆستانە گەورەکەی بۆ سەرکەوتن لە پێناو ئاشتی و چەسپاندنی بەهاکانی پێکەوەژیانی ئاشتیانە لە…

— Abdullatif J Rashid عبد اللطيف جمال رشيد (@LJRashid) May 8, 2025

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the news, calling the election “a message of peace and openness.” He noted that Lebanon, home to one of the largest Christian communities in the region, shares in the global joy of the Catholic faithful.

أهنئ الكنيسة الكاثوليكية والمؤمنين في لبنان والعالم بانتخاب قداسة البابا لاوون الرابع عشر. أدعو أن يوفَّق في حمل رسالة الانفتاح والسلام، وتعزيز ثقافة الحوار، وخدمة كرامة الإنسان في كل مكان. pic.twitter.com/ExLUMxsoYs

— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafasalam) May 8, 2025

In addition, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid sent a brief message of goodwill, expressing hope that Pope Leo’s papacy will “promote dignity and reconciliation.”

پیرۆزبایی گەرمی دڵسۆزانە ئاراستەی پاپا لیۆ چواردەهەم دەکەم @drprevost بەبۆنەی هەڵبژاردنی وەک گەورەی قەشەکان و پاپای کڵێسای کاسۆلیکی و هیوای سەرکەوتنی بۆ دەخوازم لە جێبەجێکردنی ئەرکە مرۆڤدۆستانە گەورەکەی بۆ سەرکەوتن لە پێناو ئاشتی و چەسپاندنی بەهاکانی پێکەوەژیانی ئاشتیانە لە…

— Abdullatif J Rashid عبد اللطيف جمال رشيد (@LJRashid) May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, shortly after the traditional white smoke signaled his election—a moment marking a new chapter for the Catholic Church on the global stage.