Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the President of Loveworld Incorporated, has publicly extended his heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected Pope, Robert Francis Prevost now Pope Leo XIV marking a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church as it welcomes its first American-born pontiff.

In his statement, Pastor Chris not only acknowledged the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s election but also used the occasion to reflect on what he described as the “true” history of the Roman Catholic Church. Speaking during a special broadcast on Loveworld’s global platforms, Pastor Chris urged believers and scholars alike to engage with the Church’s foundational history, noting that “much of it has been either overlooked or misrepresented.”

He emphasized that understanding the early Church, the councils that defined doctrine, and the political influences over centuries is crucial for both Catholics and non-Catholics. Without delving into criticism, Pastor Chris stressed the need for spiritual clarity and historical truth, especially as global faith communities confront a future filled with ideological, moral, and technological challenges.

Pope Leo XIV, known previously as Cardinal Robert Prevosts’s  early messages from the Vatican have stressed unity, renewal, and humility.

Pope Leo XIV was chosen on the second day of the conclave by the College of Cardinals, with 133 electors casting their votes inside the Sistine Chapel. The decision was announced with the traditional white smoke rising from the chapel’s chimney, drawing cheers from thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV has served the Church as a missionary, bishop, and most recently as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in the Vatican. His dual heritage and experience in both North and South America make him a symbol of the Church’s growing global identity.

The election follows the death of Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV will now lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics at a time of significant challenges and transformation, including ongoing reforms, secularization in the West, and vibrant Church growth in the Global South.

His first public appearance and papal blessing, Urbi et Orbi, was met with widespread enthusiasm and anticipation for what many see as a new era for the Vatican.