The Cardinal Secretary of State of the Vatican is offering congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump, offering prayers and well-wishes for the incoming leader and all the American people.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin praised the exercise of democracy manifested in the elections, along with the impressive turn-out of voters.

“We would like to offer our congratulations to the new President, wishing him a truly fruitful mandate,” Parolin said in an interview released by Vatican Radio. “We also offer our prayers that the Lord will enlighten and sustain him in the service of his country, and at the service of world peace and prosperity.”

“I think that today we all need to work to change the situation of the world, a situation of serious laceration and grave conflict,” he said.

Prodded by a journalist to comment on the dust-up between the Pope and Trump last year, Parolin chose instead to focus on the future.

“One thing is to be a candidate, another thing to be President and to have that responsibility,” he said, suggesting that it is only right to give him time to show how he settles in to his new role.

In this regard, Parolin added, from what I have understood, “the future President has already presented himself as a leader.”

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