Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals yesterday. - REUTERS
Top clergymen in the local and regional Roman Catholic Church have welcomed the selection of new Pope, Joseph Ratzinger. German-born Ratzinger, 78, has taken the name Pope Benedict XVI. He replaces John Paul II, who died earlier this month.
Lawrence Burke, Archbishop of Kingston:
"... We pledge our full support. He brings a lot of gifts to his task as Pope. He will be in a sense, a good continuation to the ministry that John Paul II had carried out. He has acumen (so) I think he will analyse the needs of the people throughout the world. I hope he will be able to address the needs of the church in the world (and) I am hoping he will have the grace of office to use his wonderful gifts to serve the church in the world."
Gordon Bennett, Bishop of the Mandeville Diocese:
"I'm delighted that the cardinals chose a man of Pope Benedict's culture, intellect and long-standing service to the church. We assure him of the support and prayers of the diocese of Mandeville for his consolation in this position at this difficult time. The time is difficult because there are so many different issues in the world ... He's an extraordinary and very capable man. We're very lucky."
Charles Dufour, Bishop of the diocese of Montego Bay, St. James:
"... I would say he will continue the good work carried out by Pope John Paul II ... We pray for him and we are here to support him. We wish him clear insight and blessings. I met him in Rome three years ago and he was very cordial and very affable. He's a clear thinker. We wish him the best."
Monsignor Richard Albert, Episcopal Vicar of St. Catherine:
"... We can look forward to this man being a person of unity. Many people may think differently but I think he will be a man who brings together divergent faiths. He may not be as outgoing as John Paul II, but he's going to connect with people. He's never wavered from the teachings of the church. The cardinals certainly heard his sermon ... when he called for a strong faith-based way of life. There's nothing wrong with that."
REGIONALLY
Kelvin Felix, Archbishop of Castries:
"We have a man who knows the church inside out ... A man who has devoted his entire life to the propagation of the gospel and to the spread of the faith. He is extremely learned in theology, a well-balanced person, very humble, and so we are looking forward to a wonderful, though not very long pontificate."
Pascal Tiernan, Papal Nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago:
"We feel he is going to bring a new intensity to what Pope John Paul II had begun in certain lines."
Malcolm Gault, Bishop of Barbados:
"It was good that he was elected quickly. It was a signal that 'he is the man to lead the church'."
Sources: Trudy Simpson, staff reporter, and the Caribbean Media Corporation.
