Pope Francis I is the first to hail from Latin America
British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the election of a new Pope, saying it is a "momentous day" for Catholics around the world.
Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pontiff on the fifth ballot on Wednesday following the papal conclave in Rome.
He will be known as Pope Francis I.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the former Archbishop of Westminster, said it was an "inspired choice" and the Church was "very blessed".
The 76-year old is the first pontiff to come from Latin America and his election follows the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI last month.
No 10 said it was "a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome".
Describing Pope Francis I as a "humble and very intelligent" man, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor said his election "may have been a surprise" but it was an "inspired choice".
"He will bring a new kind of style of to the Catholic Church," he said. "His own simplicity of life will be a great example to the whole world."
The election of a Pope from Latin America, he added, reflected the fact that the Catholic Church "was a global Church in a way that it has never been before. "This man understands that."
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét