Pope Leo calls himself pontiff who ‘happens to be American’

First US pope says mission is to be pastor of a universal church but expresses great love' for his home country and its core principles

Pope Leo, the first US pontiff, has expressed great love" for his home country and its core principles of freedom, opportunity and welcoming immigrants, but qualified that he just happens to be American".

In an interview with the US broadcaster NBC on the sidelines of a prayer event in Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat near Rome, Leo, who has condemned the immigration policies of Donald Trump's administration, spoke about his own family history in describing his relationship with the US.