Worldwide reaction to the election of the new pope, the American Leo XIV, has been swift.
President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the election of new Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, as a "great honor" for the country.
"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," Trump said on his Truth Social network.
"I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday said he hoped newly elected Pope Leo XIV would "contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defence of human rights".
"May his pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defence of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity," Sanchez wrote on X.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday congratulated the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first person from the United States to be elected as pontiff.
"Through your role, you provide hope and guidance to millions of believers around the world in these challenging times," he said in a statement.
Colombia's president hailed the selection of an American pope with deep ties to Latin America Thursday, expressing hope that the new pontiff backs Latino migrants in his native United States.
"I hope he becomes a great leader for migrant peoples around the world, and I hope he encourages our Latin American migrant brothers and sisters, humiliated today in the United States. It's time for them to organize," President Gustavo Petro said on social media.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose country has the world's second-largest Catholic population, on Thursday congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election.
Sheinbaum said she shared the pontiff's "humanist" values "in favor of world peace and prosperity."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday congratulated new Pope Leo XIV on his election hailing the "powerful call to peace" he made in his first address.
"In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia of Benedictions are a powerful call to peace, brotherhood and responsibility," she said in a statement on X, referring to the American's inaugural address on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Thursday hailed the election of Pope Leo XIV as a "historic moment" for her country, where the American-Peruvian pontiff spent more than 20 years as a missionary and bishop.
The US-born pope, who became a Peruvian national in 2015, "chose to be one of us, to live among us and to carry in his heart the faith, culture and dreams of this country," Boluarte wrote on Facebook.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday urged Pope Leo XIV to "continue the legacy" of his Argentine predecessor Francis by promoting "more solidarity and humanity" in the world.
Congratulating the new pontiff in a post on X, Lula said that Francis had tirelessly worked towards peace, social justice, environmental protection as well as "dialogue with all people and religions and respect for diversity."
AFP
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