World leaders hail arrival of new Pope

 
New pope: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio now Pope Francis I
14 March 2013

World and religious leaders have welcomed the election of Argentine cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy.

Moments after the new pope addressed the crowd gathered in St Peter's Square, Rome, last night, Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "A momentous day for the 1.2bn Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome."

President Barack Obama offered "warm wishes" to Pope Francis and said the selection speaks to the strength and vitality of the Americas.

"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis," Mr Obama said.

"As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than two thousand years that in each other we see the face of God.

"As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Welby, offered his welcome, adding: "We wish Pope Francis every blessing in the enormous responsibilities that he has assumed on behalf of Roman Catholics around the world.

"I look forward to meeting Pope Francis, and to walking and working together to build on the consistent legacy of our predecessors. May the love of Christ unite us, and intensify our service in a genuine and fruitful ecumenism that can be a blessing for the Body of Christ throughout the world.

"Pope Francis is well known as a compassionate pastor of real stature who has served the poor in Latin America, and whose simplicity and holiness of life is remarkable."

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, said the new Pope was an "inspired" choice.

"He is a humble, gentle and very intelligent and spiritual man," he told Channel 4 News.

"I think that Pope Francis is going to be a blessing for the Catholic Church and for the world. Many will think it is a surprise choice, for me it is an inspired choice."

He told the BBC: "I think he will bring a new kind of style to the Catholic Church. Here is a man who has experienced over many years, especially in his own country but also elsewhere, something of the love for poor people.

"His own simplicity of life, I think, will be a great example to people. For many people this may be a surprise election but for me it is inspired and I am very very happy, not only for the Catholic Church, but for the world."

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he looked forward to co-operation with the Holy See under Pope Francis' "wise leadership".

He said: "We share many common goals - from the promotion of peace, social justice and human rights, to the eradication of poverty and hunger - all core elements of sustainable development.

"I am certain that His Holiness will continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue which is at the heart of the Alliance of Civilisations initiative."

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "My warmest congratulations go to Pope Francis on his election, which will be welcomed by Scotland's Catholic community and by others around the world.

"I wish him well in his time in the Papacy, and his first message as Pope - urging greater bonds of understanding and co-operation among peoples and nations - is one that should resonate around the globe."

Kevin Flaherty, editor of The Catholic Times, said: "Cardinal Bergoglio has had a growing reputation as a very spiritual man with a talent for pastoral leadership serving in a region with the largest number of the world's Catholics.

"Since 1998, he has been the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, but he remains close to the people.

"He travels by bus, visits the poor, lives simply and even cooks his own meals.

"In choosing the name Francis - after St Francis of Assisi - 'Fr Jorge', as the people still call him, obviously wants to continue to live simply and humbly.

"As a man of prayer both qualities will bring a different style of leadership to the papacy, and inject a much-needed spirituality to the Catholic Church in the modern world."

The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, said: "We welcome and assure Pope Francis of our prayers and our best wishes for his future ministry.

"We hope he will bring an ecumenical perspective to the role, a desire to work with Christians of all traditions and a goodwill to people of all faiths."

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom said: "I express my heartfelt joy shared with our Catholic brethren around the world on the appointment of Pope Francis.

"We pray God's joy and blessing upon our sister Catholic Church as it embraces its new father and shepherd, and we also pray for His Holiness as he commences this sacred ministry, strengthened and overshadowed by the grace of God."

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