King Charles has sent a private message of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pontiff and Bishop of Rome.
His Majesty conveyed both his and the Queen's most sincere good wishes for the new Pope's Pontificate.
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has made history as the first American to be elected Pope.
The Chicago-born Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Despite his American birth, Prevost is also considered a cardinal from Latin America due to his extensive missionary work in Peru.
King Charles has sent a private message of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pontiff and Bishop of Rome.
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His election marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church and for American Catholics, who represent the fourth largest Catholic population globally.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, Prevost served as an altar boy before being ordained in 1982.
He moved to Peru three years later, though he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and prior in his home city.
Prevost holds Peruvian nationality and is remembered fondly for his work with marginalised communities.
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has made history as the first American to be elected Pope.
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He spent a decade as a local parish pastor and seminary teacher in Trujillo, north-western Peru.
His background in both countries has helped him build bridges between communities.
US President Donald Trump has called the election of the first American pope a "great honour" for the country.
"To have the Pope from America is a great honour," Trump said when asked for reaction to the news.
He added that he looks forward to meeting the new pontiff.
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The new Pope spent a decade as a local parish pastor and seminary teacher in Trujillo, north-western Peru.
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Vice-President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also praised Pope Leo's election.
"I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church," Vance wrote on X.
The historic appointment has prompted congratulatory messages from across the American political spectrum.
Former President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, offered his congratulations to the new pontiff.
"Habemus papam - May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois," wrote Biden, the second Catholic president in US history.
