France, May 9 -- Pope Leo XIV will on Friday celebrate his first mass as Pope after his election as the first man from North America to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

The 69-year-old former cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, will gather in the Sistine Chapel with the 132 cardinals who elected him on Thursday evening.

Messages of support have poured in from world leaders.

"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost," said US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social.

"It is such an honor to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cal...