World leaders, Catholics hail new Pope Francis

Updated March 14, 2013 20:14:43

World leaders and Catholics have welcomed the election of Pope Francis as the first Latin American pontiff, calling on him to work for the promotion of peace.

Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope during the third voting session of the conclave.

Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner has led congratulations from across the Americas, where Catholics rejoiced that one of their own will lead the church's 1.2 billion followers.

The US President, Barack Obama, has offered warm wishes to the new Pope, saying the conclave's choice speaks to the strength and vitality of the Latin American region.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says he hopes Pope Francis will continue to promote inter-faith dialogue.

Mr Ban says the United Nations and the Roman Catholic Church shared the "common goals" of promoting peace, social justice and human rights, and the eradication of poverty and hunger.

"We also share the conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of today's world through dialogue," he said.

The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has welcomed the election of Pope Francis, describing it is a momentous day for Catholics.

French President Francois Hollande says Paris is looking forward to pursuing a "confident dialogue" with the Holy See.

The EU President, Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso has urged the Pope to work to bring the "world's people and religions closer together."

New world pontiff

Catholics across Asia and the Pacific have welcomed the announcement of a pope from a developing country.

Audio: Election of Pope Francis a 'boost' to Asian churches (ABC News)

Francis is the first Pope from the Americas, as well as the first Jesuit, and the first non-European to become pope in a thousand years.

Joselito Zulueta, a writer on church affairs for the Philippines' Daily Inquirer, has told Radio Australia's Connect Asia a Jesuit pope is a boost for Asian churches.

"The reason why the election of a Jesuit to the papacy is good for Asia and other churches of the world is because much of our religious orders, much of our institutes of consecrated life so-called, would be missionary orders," he said.

"They are present in the far-flung hinterlands of Asia, Africa, all the continents of the world. Religious congregations have a greater pastoral feel of what happens in the field, what is needed, what are the demands of the mission.

As a Catholic myself from a developing country, I can tell you I am extremely elated to have a Pope from a developing country.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilepe Sailele

"So by electing a member of religious order to the highest post of the church, the papacy would be closer to the pastoral ministries of the church."

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilepe Sailele has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat he is delighted with the conclave's decision.

"As a Catholic myself from a developing country, I can tell you I am extremely elated to have a pope from a developing country especially from South America."

The rector of Fiji's regional seminary in Suva, Father Michael O'Connor, says he was surprised and "very happy" the papal conclave had looked outside Europe for a new pontiff.

"It recognises the fact at least population-wise the centre of the church is outside Europe," he told Pacific Beat.

Audio: Fiji's Father O'Connor on new non-European pope (ABC News)

"I suppose for us, its part of the southern hemisphere for the first time too, so I think that's another plus."

Father O'Connor says he's optimistic the newly-elected Pope can move the church forward in difficult times.

"I think its significant that his opening words when he appeared before the crowd in St Peters Square, [Pope Francis] was speaking about brotherhood.

"He speaks about bringing people together and breaking down enmity, and I think that might be a significant statement about what he wants to achieve as the new Pope."

Tim Fischer, who was the Ambassador to the Holy See for a number of years, told the ABC's News 24 the newly-elected Pope will bring about change.

"Latin American pontiff, someone a long way from Rome and a Jesuit to boot, that spells conservative approach maybe but change, and change where it's needed on the financial administration of the Vatican and the clergy sexual abuse issue and others," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has hailed the election of Argentinian Pope Francis as "an occasion of genuinely historic proportions".

Ms Gillard, an atheist, says her thoughts are with Australia's more than five million Catholics after Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the new pontiff.

"The election of a pope from the 'new world' is an occasion of genuinely historic proportions," she said.

"Today is an exciting day for Australian Catholics and perhaps especially for Australians of Argentinian descent."

'Every blessing'

In Latin America, the leaders of Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico have joined the clergy in hailing Pope Francis, who was elected after five rounds of voting in the Vatican.

"Long live Francis I," Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said via his Twitter account - one of millions of tweets sent about the historic election that ended with white smoke billowing out of a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

"We are extremely happy because our Lord has cast his eyes on Latin America, and we are extremely grateful to God for that because we have a Latin American pope," said the Archbishop of San Salvador, Jose Luis Escobar.

In Brazil, some expressed disappointment that Cardinal Odilo Scherer, the archbishop of Sao Paulo who had been considered a frontrunner, was not elected.

In Africa, where the number of Catholics is steadily growing, the president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference said that, while some had hoped for a younger pontiff, all expect "great things" from Francis.

"The symbolism of choosing a pope from Latin America delights and touches us, most particularly in developing countries," said Archbishop Stephen Breslin.

Father John Dingi, of St. Matthew's Catholic Cathedral in downtown Khartoum, where Christians are a tiny minority in Islamist-run Sudan, also expressed his joy.

"We are very happy," Dingi said. "It's good because, you see, Christianity is now growing very fast in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia."

Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's Anglicans, wished "every blessing" to the new Pope and said he looked forward to meeting him.

The new Pope was sure to face continuing pressure to ensure no further sex abuse by pedophile priests or cover-ups by senior clergymen.

A litany of firsts

Francis is the first pope from Latin America, which houses more than 40 per cent of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

He is the eighth-oldest pontiff at the moment of his election to accede to Peter's throne.

The 76-year-old is nevertheless slightly younger than his predecessor Benedict XVI, who was 78 when he was elected in 2005.

Francis is the first pope to choose an original name since John Paul I in 1978, who was the first to do so since Lando, elected in 913.

He is also the first Jesuit to become sovereign pontiff.

Pope Francis is known for his conservative stances on homsexuality and contraception, but his views on poverty are considered radical by many Catholics.

His decision to become the first pope ever to go by the name Francis is seen as highly significant.

The moniker draws on the legacy of St Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century founder of the Franciscan Order and a symbol of asceticism.


Topics: catholic, religion-and-beliefs, world-politics, italy, holy-see-vatican-city-state, european-union, pacific

First posted March 14, 2013 10:16:32