May 15, 2025
On May 8, 2025, the Haitian government expressed deep satisfaction at the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—as head of the Catholic Church. In an official statement, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé conveyed his “profound deference” to the new Pontiff, hailing him as a spiritual figure whose life embodies service, humility, and universality.
In a message rich with solemnity, the Haitian executive praised Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral and human qualities, describing him as “a man of faith, service, and mission.” The government particularly highlighted his closeness to the most vulnerable and his enduring commitment to a Church that is open and fraternal. The choice of this new religious leader is seen as a continuation of the Church’s core values of compassion and justice.
In a country where Catholicism remains deeply woven into popular culture and spirituality, Haiti joins the global outpouring of devotion surrounding the election. The statement expresses the nation’s “fervent hope that this new pontificate will be marked by peace, fraternity, and justice for all peoples”—a sentiment that echoes Haiti’s own social, political, and spiritual challenges, where the voice of the Vatican still carries significant weight.
More than a routine diplomatic congratulation, the message stands as a call for the universal communion of peoples. By “joining in prayer with the faithful around the world,” Haiti reaffirms its desire to reconnect with the values of spiritual solidarity and global peace through the moral influence of the new papacy. The gesture also underscores the enduring importance of the relationship between the Haitian state and religious institutions.
