Donald Trump welcomes the news that there is an American pope.
"It is an honor to acknowledge that he is the first American pope. What joy, and what great honor for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV", writes the President of the USA on his platform Truth Social.
Leo XIV has also had Peruvian citizenship since 2015 and spent many years in the country as a missionary and later as an archbishop. Peru's President Dina Boluarte the election of the pope as "historic".
"Spread hope"
In a post on Facebook, Boluarte writes that the 69-year-old Prevost "chose to be one of us, to live among us and to carry in his heart the faith, culture, and dreams of this country".
"In our countries, he spread hope and walked alongside those who were most in need."
Words of hope and confidence are pouring in from other leaders, from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Germany's Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the UK's Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
The latter writes on X that he hopes for continued moral and spiritual support "in Ukraine's efforts to achieve justice and lasting peace".
"Important role to play"
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin says he is "convinced that constructive dialogue and cooperation" with the Vatican can continue.
From Israel comes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a hope for continued unity among all faiths.
The Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, Martin Modéus, writes in a statement that he received the news of the election with gladness and expectation.
"In a time of great challenges, spiritual leaders have an important role to play. This applies especially to the leader of the world's largest community", writes Modéus, and continues:
"We have a common longing to bear the message of God's love in the world and to build bridges between people."
