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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.

****

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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