President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday afternoon, 'We were a little bit surprised, but very happy. Its just a great, absolutely great honor." Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican on Thursday announced that Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, will take up the highest authority in the Catholic Church after only two days of deliberation and voting by the papal conclave.Upon the announcement of the first American pontiff to be elected, world leaders began reacting with their own messages of support and good wishes.FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIVPresident Donald Trump took to his social media site to offer his "congratulations" and said, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope."What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," he added. "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, the current leader of Leos hometown, posted his excitement of the news on X and said, "Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV!"We hope to welcome you back home soon," he added.Italys leader, President Giorgia Meloni, who was reportedly close with Pope Francis, extended her "most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate.""In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility," she said in reference to the central balcony at St. Peters Basilica. "A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope."DAVID MARCUS: POPE LEO XIV'S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS ALREADY CHANGING THE WORLDThe government of Peru where Leo spent more than a decade serving in the Catholic Church and where he was appointed bishop in 2014 before getting his dual citizenship in 2015 offered its congratulations from President Dina Boluarte, offering their "fraternal greetings" to the pontiff."He served our people with love and faith. In his first message as pontiff, he recalled with emotion his time in Chiclayo and his closeness to Peru," the statement highlighted. "May God bless him in his mission!""Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV as [Pontiff]," the President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the predominantly Catholic country, said on X. "May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity.""A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity."On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope," he added in apparent reference to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIVUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished Pope Leo congratulations along with "wisdom, inspiration, and strengthboth spiritual and physicalin carrying out his noble mission.""Ukraine deeply values the Holy Sees consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federations military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians," he continued. "At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraines efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace."UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appointment of the first American pontiff a "momentous moment" and said, "The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world."I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon," he added.The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, wrote on X, "We congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV, elected by the College of Cardinals as Head of Vatican City State and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church."I reaffirm our humanist convergence for world peace and prosperity," she added.

Weight training is essential to good physical health and is especially important for aging well. A study by Harvard researchers found that middle-aged men who could do 20 push-ups had better heart health over time.Push-ups are a versatile bodyweight exercise that effectively builds strength, particularly in the upper body, core and legs. They are also easy to fit into any fitness routine. If you find it difficult, add modifications like getting on your knees to build strength.Strengthen your push-up game with these five fitness gadgets:These Ultimate Body Press Push-Up Blocks support a relaxed, flat palm position, with fingers extended over the side of a raised surface to relieve strain. You can also try these more traditional push-up handles, $9.98 at Walmart, to give yourself more space for a wider range of motion. This can help improve shoulder stability and strength.START GETTING IN SHAPE FOR SUMMER WITH THIS AT-HOME WORKOUT EQUIPMENTFor assistance with your push-ups, try this Slingshot Push-Up Band, $47 at Walmart. This band is designed to help you execute push-ups with the correct form and efficiency. The deeper you go into the movement, the more assistance you receive. Its flexible construction and double-ply chest portion make it easier for you to put on and take off. Using these bands during push-ups can help increase resistance and make the exercise more challenging, leading to greater strength gains.Original price: $279Dumbbell exercises like chest presses and rows build chest, shoulders and tricep strength to support push-ups. Start with this set from Walmart, which includes five pairs of rubber hex dumbbells ranging from five to 25 pounds. The set includes an A-frame storage rack to save floor space. You can buy a similar set of weights on Amazon for $189.WOMEN'S JEANS TO FIT YOUR SPRING STYLEOriginal price: $45.99Pull-ups are a great exercise for building upper body strength, including the back muscles that stabilize the shoulders during push-ups. This freestanding pull-up bar dip station is a great option that accommodates all levels. This freestanding bar from Walmart, on sale for $48.64, has a thickened steel pipe and a reinforced structure for stability and support.For more Deals, visit www.foxnews.com/category/dealsOriginal price: $162.49This bench can be used for incline push-ups, which focus on the upper chest, or for triceps dips, which target the triceps muscles crucial for push-up performance. The weight bench features eight back and three seat positions, allowing you to complete a full-body workout.

Charles Barkley does not believe ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has a shot at becoming president.Barkley, 62, responded emphatically when asked about Smiths chances of one day sitting in the Oval Office."Hell no! Come on, stop it." Barkley said during a recent appearance on OutKicks "Dont @ Me with Dan Dakich."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Hey, hey, Dan, knock it off right now. Stop it. Come on man, dont do that."Barkley said Smith is a friend of his and implored him to "stop" entertaining the possibility of running for president.The Basketball Hall of Famer thinks Smith is on TV too much and that people could get "sick" of him."I was in the studio last night and I saw he was going to be on Law & Order tonight. I mean he is already on General Hospital, hes already on General Hospital, now he is going to be on Law & Order tonight, and I was just laughing. I was like, Yo man, you are starting to be too much right now," Barkley said.FORMER WNBA STAR CHINEY OGWUMIKE TOUTS STEPHEN A SMITH'S DEBATE SKILLS AHEAD OF POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL RUN"Like, you are going to be on CNN, you are going to be on Fox & Friends, now you on General Hospital, now you on Law & Order, Im like, Yo man, knock it off. Stop being on every TV show because at some point people are going to get sick of you, and you are going to be like, Yeah I probably did too much. But once you do too much, its too late and people dont take you serious, and I think hes got to be careful in that aspect."Barkley said he wants to be on TV less and less, because "less is more.""My friends close to me give me a lot of credit, and Im not blowing my own horn, I want to be on TV as less as possible, to be honest with you Dan. Thats why I only do a couple commercials a year. I dont go on a bunch of shows, less is more, because the more you do, the less people take you serious. And I dont feel the need to grab every dime, I dont feel the need to grab every dime at my disposal," Barkley said."Ive been arguing with my agent, he said we could do five-seven commercials a year, I said we are going to do two commercials a year, thats it. I dont want to be on TV all the time. I get sick of seeing myself do March Madness, but I dont want to be on TV all the time and I dont do a bunch of TV stuff because I dont want to people get sick of you, thats my number one thing. People will get sick of you, so I dont want to be on TV more, I want to be on TV less."Smith posted to X in April that he is "leaving all doors open" regarding the possibility of running for president, but said he "hate(s) the thought of being a politician."Whether Smith decides to run for president or not, its clear that Barkley doesnt think the ESPN host has a chance.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

An alleged outburst by Sen. John Fetterman is reopening concerns about whether the Pennsylvania Democrat is still fit for office after suffering a stroke several years ago.Fetterman, a 55-year-old Democrat perhaps best known for his distinctive habit of almost always wearing gym shorts and a hoodie, suffered a stroke in 2022 and was later admitted to Walter Reed Hospital for depression for six weeks shortly after taking office.The Associated Press reported this week that during a meeting with teachers union members from his state, Fetterman became agitated, began repeating himself, shouting and yelling: "Everybody is mad at me" and "Why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do?" He also reportedly slammed his hands on a desk during the outburst.The outlet reported that Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) President Aaron Chapin was present at the meeting. Neither PSEA nor Chapin responded to Fox News Digitals request to confirm or deny the incident.FETTERMAN SLAMS 'DUMB HIT PIECE' ABOUT HEALTH, SAYS IT FELT LIKE BEING 'IN GOODFELLAS'According to the AP, an aide cut off the meeting, ushered the visitors out and proceeded to break down crying.The outburst came shortly before New York Magazine published a story detailing concerns about his mental health from several current and former staffers. The magazine reported that staffers "paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported."The article extensively cites testimony from Adam Jentleson, Fettermans former chief of staff, who voiced a plethora of concerning behavior, including "conspiratorial thinking; megalomania" and "high highs and low lows; long, rambling, repetitive and self centered monologues; lying in ways that are painfully, awkwardly obvious to everyone in the room."The articles author went on to state that many of the staffers are not only worried about his fitness as a senator but also that "he may present a risk to the Democratic Party and maybe even to himself."LIBERALS WHO RALLIED BEHIND FETTERMAN POST-STROKE IN 2022 TURN ON PRO-ISRAEL SENATOR AFTER NY MAGAZINE REPORTIn response to the AP report, Fettermans office sent Fox News Digital several comments from the senator in which he neither confirmed nor denied the outburst but instead, said: "Heres what is true: We had a spirited conversation about our collective frustration with the Trump administrations cuts to our education system."The senator said: "As a proud product of PSEA, I will always support our teachers, and I will always reject anyones attempt to turn Pennsylvanias public schools into a voucher program."In reference to the New York Magazine article, Fetterman dismissed the concerns as "just disgruntled former staffers peddling lies and half-truths under the guise of concern."BILL MAHER SAYS WOKE REALITY TV MOMENT EXPLAINS HOW DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL BLOW NEXT ELECTIONFetterman said that "if those were genuine concerns, theyd pick up the phone and call me, not the press," adding, "My ACTUAL doctors and my family affirmed that Im very well."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe senator has previously labeled the magazines report "a dumb hit piece," saying: "We've all moved on."

Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden fired back on "The View" on Thursday against stories about Joe's mental decline behind the scenes at the White House, with Jill cutting in at one point as the ex-president trailed off while defending his record.Asked by co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin about Democratic sources in new books who said there was a "dramatic decline" in the former president's cognitive abilities toward the end of his term, Joe flatly said they were incorrect before segueing into criticism of the prior Trump administration."They are wrong," he said. "Theres nothing to sustain that, number one. Number two, you know, think of what we left with. We left with a circumstance where we had an insurrection when I started, not since the Civil War. We had a circumstance where we were in a position that we well, the pandemic, because of the incompetence of the last outfit, end up over a million people dying, a million people dying. And were also in a situation where we found ourselves unable to deal with a lot of just basic issues, which I wont go into in the interest of time. And so we went to work, and we got it done and, you know, one of the things that well, Im"That's when his wife jumped in.BIDEN TELLS 'THE VIEW' HE WASN'T SURPRISED HARRIS LOST, BLAMES SEXISM AND RACISM"Alyssa, one of the things I think is that the people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us," Jill said. "And they didnt see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean, hed get up. Hed put in a full day, and then at night he would Id be in bed, you know, reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings. Working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop."She praised her husband for working hard and said, based on the state of things now under President Donald Trump, "give me Joe Biden any time," leading to loud applause from the audience.Griffin also pressed the former president about his dramatic departure from the 2024 race under pressure from fellow Democrats like Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. He said he exited because he didn't want a divided Democratic Party, while again insisting during the show he could have beaten Trump."I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interests, my personal interests. Im not being facetious. Im being deadly earnest about that," Joe said. "And I think that we still let me put it this way. I had six more months. Did a pretty good job in six months."AGE-OLD SENIORITY QUESTION DIVIDES DEMOCRATS AS BIDEN RETURNS TO NATIONAL SPOTLIGHTHe acknowledged concerns about his age he would have been 86 at the end of a second term and was already the oldest American president in history but said he got plenty done when "I supposedly lost my cognitive capability."Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, a fervent Biden supporter, suggested that his poor showing at the debate last year started the whole concern over his fitness for office."Why do you think people bought into it, especially the Democrats?" Goldberg asked.Joe said he hadn't lost many debates but acknowledged he had a "bad night" while also saying he was sick that evening. His wife said he admitted it to her afterward and he used a colorful term for "screwed up" but she didn't want those 90 minutes to define his presidency."We all saw it, it was terrible," Jill said of her husband's debate performance.In actuality, Republicans and some Democrats had been raising concerns before the debate for years and especially throughout 2024 about Joe's mental fitness, through such moments as the Robert Hur report that mentioned his failing memory, a bombshell Wall Street Journal story about behind-the-scenes concerns, and various viral videos of him appearing to freeze up or seem confused that the White House dismissed as "cheap fakes."However, the debate's fallout was unmistakable. Although Joe held on at first, he succumbed to party pressure and exited the contest on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who went on to lose the general election to Trump.BIDEN BLASTS TRUMP AS 'FOOLISH' APPEASER OF RUSSIA, SAYS FIRST 100 DAYS WERE NO TRIUMPHCo-host Sara Haines put heat on Jill over concerns she may have been too close to the situation to impartially gauge whether her husband could handle a second term."I was with Joe day and night," she said. "I saw him more than any other person I did not create a cocoon around him. I mean, you saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasnt hiding somewhere. I didnt have him, you know, sequestered in some place."Asked about the idea she was a "Lady MacBeth," a reference to the scheming Shakespeare character who wields nefarious influence behind the scenes, she responded that such rhetoric was "very hurtful, especially from some of our so-called friends."Jill has previously said she was disappointed in Pelosi's role in pushing her husband out of the race."We were friends for 50 years," she told the Washington Post. "It was disappointing."

Pope Leo XIV thanks each cardinal elector after accepting his appointment to serve as the 267th pope Thursday in Vatican City. (Credit: Vatican News via X)

According to church leaders from the Archdiocese of Chicago, newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from America, has a heart for the poor and is also a Cubs fan.

'The Five' co-hosts give their take on trade negotiations under President Donald Trump following a deal with the United Kingdom.

This Department of Housing and Urban Development DEI training video shows some of the DEI-related lessons for staff that the Trump administration is squashing.