COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued the following statement about the Election of Pope Leo XIV:

"Fran and I are joyous upon the selection today of our new Pope-Pope Leo the XIV. As a member of the Augustinian order, he has lived a life of service, building communities through the commandment of loving our neighbors. Through his work as a teacher and missionary, he has been committed to spreading the Gospel by helping the poor, migrants, and the least among us. His background as a parish priest and as a missionary tells us that he will be a Pope who will work hard to stay in touch with people of all backgrounds around the world."