"From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of the Polish nation and on my own behalf, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his election to the See of Rome," Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a message posted on the X social media platform.
'Deeply moving moment' for the world: Polish president
"This is a deeply moving moment for the community of the Catholic Church and for the whole world," he added.
"In Poland, we are experiencing it with great emotion and hope - as a nation which, as Saint John Paul II reminded us, through the 1,000-year course of its history, has been bound to the Church of Christ and to the See of Rome by a special bond of spiritual unity.
"Please accept the assurance of the readiness of the Republic of Poland to further strengthen these unique bonds - in the name of shared values, responsibility for the common good and the strengthening of peace in the world.
"May God guide Your Holiness on the path of this great mission," Duda wrote.
'Evil will not prevail': Polish PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also posted a message on X, writing: "Habemus Papam! Evil will not prevail. Zło nie zwycięży. Ił male non prevarrà. The optimism and hope that the world needs."
Polish foreign ministry sends 'heartfelt wishes for a fruitful and enduring pontificate'
The Polish foreign ministry extended "heartfelt wishes for a fruitful and enduring pontificate to the new Holy Father."
Born in Chicago and aged 69, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru, the Reuters news agency reported.
He became a cardinal in 2023 and is the first pope from North America.
'Great honor for our country': Trump
US President Donald Trump welcomed Prevost's election, saying: "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Polish philosopher and ethicist Andrzej Szostek said many hope the swift election of Pope Leo XIV will help heal divisions that emerged during the often-polarizing, 12-year papacy of Pope Francis.
Francis, who was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, died on April 21 at age 88.
He was the first pontiff from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope.
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Source: IAR, PAP, TVN24, Reuters, CNN