Tom Llamas is an NBC News anchor. After Canticle of Peace at Castel Gandolfo on 29 July 2026, he interviewed Pope Leo XIV about the Pope’s identity as the first American pontiff.
What the Pope said
Asked about being the first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV said he thought of himself as “the Pope who happens to be American.” He spoke of his love for the United States and its ideals of freedom and opportunity, and placed his responsibility as pastor of a universal Church before nationality.
He referred to immigrant grandparents and to a family history that included both enslaved people and slaveowners. He said that history, like that of the United States, contained both the promise of freedom and the inheritance of contradiction. Asked about a visit to the United States, he said Americans would see him there; no journey had been finalised.
Context of the interview
The interview followed the prayer and fraternity gathering at Borgo Laudato si’, organised by the Laudato si’ Higher Education Centre and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation as part of the St Francis centenary commemorations. CorporateWire’s report on the post-event greeting covers the greeting with Pope Leo XIV. Event details are supported by Holy See and Vatican News accounts.