What non-Catholics think of the new pope

englibertm · 2013-03-14T10:21:16+00:00

Leaders of other faiths appeared to embrace the selection, but also used the opportunity to lay out their own hopes for the new pontiff .With the words "Habemus papam" -- we have a pope -- Catholics had a new leader, and the wider world had a new ministry to watch. The direction the new pope takes his flock is of great importance for committed Catholics, but the papacy is also closely watched by other faiths. The pope wields vast influence as the world's most powerful moral leader. Pope Francis of Buenos Aires, formerly Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, emerged from the conclave as the first pope from outside Europe in modern times, the first Jesuit, the first from Latin America, and the first named Francis, in recollection of St. Francis of Assisi, who dedicated his life to helping the poor. BIO: Jorge Mario Bergoglio COLUMN: Why evangelicals should care about new pope Leaders of other faiths appeared to embrace the selection cautiously, not unlike some Catholics themselves, offering prayers and congratulations, but also using the opportunity to lay out their own hopes for the new pontiff. The Orthodox Union lauded Pope Francis for his solidarity with the Argentinean Jewish community and expressed hope that the Pope "will be an active force in the battle against those who would use religion as a justification for violence and intolerance." Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, issued the following statement after the election Wednesday: "We believe that the election of Francis is a significant moment in the history of the Church. We look forward to working with him to continue to foster Catholic-Jewish relations as we have with his predecessors. There is much in his record that reassures us about the future." Pawan Deshpande, a member of the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council, congratulated the Catholic Church, but expressed a desire for change from the tenure of Benedict XVI. Some Hindus consider the former pope's reign as a lost opportunity for dialogue. "As a pluralistic faith, Hindus respect the papacy for its importance to Catholics, and hope that the Church now begins a new era of mutually respecting Dharma religions and other pluralist traditions as divinely inspired paths as well," Deshpande said in a statement Wednesday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading Muslim civil rights group in Washington, offered its support to the new pontiff, after somewhat difficult relations between the Muslim world and the Vatican during Benedict's tenure. "We congratulate Pope Francis on his election by the College of Cardinals and offer the Muslim community's support and cooperation in every positive effort he will undertake for peace, justice and the betterment of humanity," Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a news release. Pope Francis speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Thread starter englibertm
Start date Mar 14, 2013

englibertm

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What non-Catholics think of the new pope

englibertm

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