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Bush welcomes Pope Benedict XVI
By Lesley Curwen
BBC News, Washington
|
President George W Bush has welcomed the election of the new Pope, saying he is a man of wisdom and knowledge.
But more progressive Catholics in the US are concerned about whether Benedict XVI could polarise opinion through being combative on moral issues.
Mr. Bush, standing next to his wife, Laura, on the White House lawn, said they both offered their congratulations to the new pope.
Mr. Bush met Cardinal Ratzinger earlier this month at John Paul II's funeral.
"He's a man of great wisdom and knowledge," Mr. Bush said.
"He's a man who serves the Lord. We remember well a sermon at the Pope's funeral in Rome, how his words touched our hearts and the hearts of millions."
Mr. Bush went on to say he and his wife joined with fellow citizens and millions around the world to pray for continued strength and wisdom as the new Pope leads the Catholic Church.
Earlier the state department said the US looked forward to working with Pope Benedict XVI to build upon what it called an already excellent relationship with the Vatican.
The president had shared many of the former pope's conservative beliefs on social issues such as abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research, and he will no doubt welcome the choice of a successor with similarly robust views.
A few in the progressive wing of America's Catholic population of 67 million have expressed surprise or concern at the choice of the Cardinals, with critics suggesting the new Pope's conservative views may polarize opinion.
And there has been a wary reaction from leaders of victims' groups representing those who suffered sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the US.
Mary Grant, of the US Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in her view, Cardinal Ratzinger had seemed to "prefer combativeness to compromise and compassion".
"It's... crucial that the new Pope follow the words and views of John Paul II who said 'there is no place in the priesthood for anyone who would harm the young," she added.