Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago, tells NBC that he has “great love” for the United States and what it represents. In an interview reported by multiple outlets, he says his identity is not defined by nationality. Instead, he describes himself as the pope who happens to be American, emphasizing that his role is to serve as pastor of a universal church with a mission to speak to people worldwide.
The comments are framed around questions about how important being American is to him, and he responds by stressing he does not mean to diminish what it means to be American. He reiterates that his primary responsibility is his leadership of the global Catholic Church, rather than a national identity.
Outlets also note that the interview took place on the sidelines of a prayer event with music at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence. Several reports refer to him as the first pope from the United States.
