WASHINGTON — When the white smoke began drifting from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s spokesman clued the former speaker in on the news.

“I have never heard her more excited about anything,” Ian Krager later wrote on X.

The famously Catholic Pelosi is one of more than 150 Catholics serving in the 119th Congress, a number that has steadily grown since the mid-20th century to become the largest single denomination among members. Hispanic Catholics account for an increasing share of Catholic members, as the overall number of Hispanic members of Congress has risen.

The fact that the new pope — former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, now Pope Leo XIV — would be the first American to serve provoked giddiness among Catholics in Congress. He succeeds the late Pope Francis, who died April 21.

“Absolutely elated!” Texas Democratic Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia wrote on social media.

Prevost spent decades serving an impoverished enclave in Peru and often worked with the late Pope Francis, including the move to add three women to the papal conclave, The Washington Post reported.

While both parties expressed pride at the first American pontiff, Democrats especially praised the message of unity that Leo delivered in his first papal address. Some of the more devoutly Catholic members invoked their own faith.

“We are reminded by his urging for the world to build bridges — that what unites us is stronger than what divides us,” wrote Democratic Sen. Edward J. Markey.

“Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history! As he begins to lead the over 1 billion Catholics in their faith, Kelly and I will be praying for his good health and success,” wrote Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio.

For Democratic Chicago Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, it was hometown pride: “Da Pope,” Garcia wrote.

Slightly more Catholics are Democrats, but from a policy standpoint, theirs is one of the biggest tents in Congress. Catholic lawmakers range from being known for their strict stances against abortion, like New Jersey Republican Rep. Christopher H. Smith, to progressives who cite their faith in social justice causes, such as New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Members of leadership from both parties — Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a Republican — are both Catholic.

Pelosi, a devout Catholic, has found herself in conflict with the church over her politics. In 2022, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone banned the former House speaker from receiving communion, arguing in a public letter that her support for abortion rights was against Catholic doctrine. Pelosi has also criticized the Vatican for a 2018 papal doctrine supporting the state-led Catholic church in China.

A statement released by Pelosi praised the new pope, who was “elected by one of the largest and most diverse conclaves ever.”

“It is heartening,” Pelosi said, “that His Holiness continued the blessing that Pope Francis gave on Easter Sunday: ‘God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.’”

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