New Pope reaches out to other Christians, faiths
VATICAN CITY, Wednesday (Reuters) Pope Benedict XVI moved swiftly on
Wednesday to allay fears of a rigid papacy that would turn its back on
other faiths and cultures, saying he would work for dialogue both within
and outside the Church.
In his first public Mass since his election on Tuesday, German Joseph
Ratzinger, 78, made an early effort to address concerns aroused by his
past role as a tough doctrinal enforcer who harshly dismissed other
Christian denominations. The new Pope said he felt "inadequacy and human
turmoil" at his election, a choice that was welcomed by conservatives
but caused consternation among Church reformers.
"I welcome everybody with simplicity and love to assure them that the
Church wants to continue in open and sincere dialogue with them, in
search of the true good of man and society," he said at the Mass with
the red-hatted cardinals who elected him.
Sitting in front of Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment in the
Sistine Chapel where he was elected, and dressed in white and gold
vestments, the pontiff said he felt his predecessor, John Paul, was
guiding him and holding his hand.
"I will spare no effort and commitment to continue the promising
dialogue with other civilisations that was started by my venerable
predecessors," Benedict said. Jewish and Muslim leaders have already
called for contacts to continue. The election, in one of the swiftest
conclaves for a century, was widely seen as reflecting the cardinals'
determination for continuity with John Paul's stern rule.
Newspapers in Turkey expressed concern that the new Pope's past
opposition to Ankara joining the European Union on the grounds that it
is a Muslim nation could raise fresh obstacles to its membership.
The choice of one of John Paul's closest aides was greeted by a
shower of congratulations from world and religious leaders and delight
from conservatives. But there was deep disappointment among those who
hoped for reform in the Catholic Church.
South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu called Benedict a
"rigid conservative" out of step with the times. "We would have hoped
for someone more open to the more recent developments in the world, the
whole question of the ministry of women and a more reasonable position
with regards to condoms and HIV/AIDS," Tutu said.
The strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for 23 years, Ratzinger has
made clear in recent speeches that he will brook no dissent and will
block debate on issues such as women priests, priestly celibacy,
abortion and homosexuality.
Italian newspapers, generally the best informed about the secret
papal election, said the rapid conclusion of the conclave after only
four votes suggested Ratzinger had exploited the momentum of his
front-runner status before a more moderate wing could unite around one
candidate.
The clear favourite before the conclave, he also confounded the Roman
maxim: "He who enters as Pope leaves as a cardinal."
Friends and colleagues said the world had yet to see the warmer side
of a man who has been dubbed in the Italian press as the "panzer
cardinal" and "God's Rottweiler". "This is a really wonderful, calm,
thoughtful human being," said cardinal Edward Egan of New York after the
conclave, which lasted just 24 hours.
The Church's 265th pontiff, Ratzinger is the oldest man elected pope
for 300 years and the first German for a millennium. In his native
Germany, news of the election aroused competing emotions from pride to
doubts and outright dismay in a nation that sees itself as secular,
liberal and progressive.
"We consider the election of Ratzinger as a catastrophe," said Bernd
Goehring of German ecumenical group Church from Below. "It is very
disappointing, even if it was predictable. We can expect no reform from
him in the coming years." "In my opinion the man is simply too old for
this office," said Agnes Straubinger, a resident of Munich in
Ratzinger's native Bavaria. "How will the Catholic Church ever progress
if it always bases itself in the past?"
U.S. President George W. Bush joined other foreign leaders in heaping
praise on Benedict, a respected theologian of steely intellect, hailing
him as "a man of great wisdom and knowledge".
But the shy prelate, while sharing John Paul's strict orthodoxy, will
mark a sharp change of style from his charismatic predecessor, who was
the world's most-travelled pontiff and was 20 years younger than
Ratzinger when he ascended the papal throne.
The cardinals were believed to have chosen an elderly pontiff as a
transitional pope after the 26-year reign of John Paul, the third
longest in Church history.
In Latin America joy was tempered by disappointment that the new
Pontiff was not from the region that is home to about half the world's
Catholics. His election also dismayed liberal Catholics in the United
States, who said they doubted he would heal an institution racked by
disillusionment and tarnished by a sex abuse scandal among the clergy.
Vatican watchers expected the new Pope to focus on growing atheism in
the Church's backyard, Europe, pointing to his choice of the name
Benedict, which harked back to the 6th century founder of Western
monasticism and a patron saint of Europe.
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President sends message of felicitation to Pope Benedict XVI
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a message of
felicitation to Pope Benedict XVI states:
"On behalf of the Government and the people of the Democratic
Republic of Sri Lanka and on my own behalf, I extend to Your Holiness
and the people of the Holy See, our warm congratulations and respectful
greetings on your election to the Sovereign Pontificate.
Your Holiness has assumed duties at a significant moment of history,
when there is a great yearning for peace and harmony in the world.
I am confident Your Holiness will guide us with wisdom towards a
better world. Sri Lanka enjoys a warm relationship with the Holy See and
has worked closely with the religious dialogue initiated by His Holiness
the late Pope.
We are confident that this cooperation will further strengthen under
the guidance of Your Holiness. May I extend to Your Holiness, my sincere
best wishes for your good health and peace and prosperity of the Holy
See.
Please accept Your Holiness, the assurances of my highest
consideration."
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