March 13,
2013
New Pope
Elected
In a statement released today,
the Moderator of The United Church of Canada, the Right Rev. Gary Paterson,
offered congratulations to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio on his election as the
new Pope.
“Cardinal Bergoglio now faces
the formidable challenge shared by the spiritual leaders of all the world’s
great religions—a sisterhood and brotherhood of spiritual leaders who are called
to the ministry of guiding the faithful toward creating a better world for all.
“May the cardinal, now Pope
Francis I, find the strength to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, as he inspires the global Roman Catholic community to seek justice, love
kindness, and walk humbly with God.
“And may all people of faith and
goodwill join hands in solidarity with the new Pope in the common pursuit of
caring for one another and for all of creation.”
