The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Leo XIV on Saturday on his election as the new pontiff of the Catholic Church, and expressed the continental organization’s desire to continue collaborating with the Holy See.

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In a brief statement issued by the AU, which is based in Addis Ababa, Youssouf stated that he “sincerely congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election.”

The head of the Commission (secretariat) expressed his “deep hope to continue collaborating with the Holy See to promote peace, justice and the dignity of all human beings on our planet.”

The American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, elected this Thursday as Pope of the Catholic Church, was born in Chicago 69 years ago, although he also obtained Peruvian nationality in 2015 after spending a large part of his religious life in the Andean country.

Leo XIV, who becomes the 267th pontiff in history, was elected on the second day of the conclave to succeed Francis, the first Argentine pope, who died on April 21.

In addition several African leaders, including the presidents of Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia and Kenya, congratulated US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his election as the new Pope Leo XIV.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu congratulated Prevost on his election as the “leader of the Catholic Church” in the world. “On behalf of the government and people of Tanzania, I wish you all the best in your service to the Church and the world at large,” she said on his account on the social network X.

The president of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, congratulated him on his election as pontiff and expressed his wishes for “success, happiness and longevity.”

For his part, the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, hoped that his leadership would be “blessed with wisdom, compassion and strength” to face the challenges of “these decisive times.”

The Kenyan leader hoped that Leo XIV would “firmly” defend peace, justice and the “sanctity” of human dignity throughout the world wishing for Leo’s papacy “a bright light of love, hope and compassion; that it help the poor, give voice to those who do not, heal divisions and firmly defend peace, justice and the sanctity of human dignity throughout the world.”

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