(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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World Reaction to Papal Election
Well-Wishers for Benedict XVI
ROME, APRIL 23, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
Leaders from a variety of faiths and countries issued statements on the election
of Pope Benedict XVI. Here is a sample.
-- World religious leaders --
Paul Spiegel, president of the Jewish association in Germany
"I am sure that he will intensify the successful route toward understanding
between Christians and Jews to the benefit of both religions."
--- --- ---
Nadeem Elyas, president of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany
He expressed the hope that the new Pope would continue the dialogue between
Christians and Muslims. "The cardinal was always John Paul II's right hand and
surely contributed much to the opening gaining this priority," the chairman
said. As Germans, Muslims were doubly happy about Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's
election, he said.
--- --- ---
Lutheran World Federation
"As Pope Benedict XVI prepares to assume his high spiritual and temporal
responsibilities, the Lutheran World Federation accompanies him with the prayer
that he will be given the grace to continue the ministry of his predecessors in
a process of steady renewal, for the benefit of the church universal, and of
humanity."
--- --- ---
Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches
"We give thanks to our common Lord Jesus Christ for granting the Roman Catholic
Church a new Bishop of Rome, known for his theological integrity and ecclesial
loyalty, his evangelical simplicity and pastoral sensitivity, a successor to
Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XV, both known as 'Primates of peace.'
"Your election coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican
Council, the great beginning of the modern ecumenical journey within the Roman
Catholic Church.
"We pray to our common Lord Jesus Christ, asking that your Pontificate
constitute a time for the Roman Catholic Church to apply, in a renewed
commitment, the teachings and the spirit of ecumenical openness exemplified in
the Second Vatican Council to the life of her faithful and of the whole Church."
--- --- ---
Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, of Vienna and Austria,
representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European institutions
"What do I, as an Orthodox bishop living and serving in Europe, expect from the
new pontificate?
"First of all, that the Catholic Church continues to preserve its traditional
doctrinal and moral teaching without surrendering to pressures from the
'progressive' groups that demand the ordination of women, the approval of the
so-called 'same-sex marriages,' abortion, contraception, euthanasia, etc. There
is no doubt that Benedict XVI, who has already made his positions on these
issues clear, will continue to oppose such groups, which exist both within the
Catholic Church and outside it.
"Secondly, I hope that the new pontificate is marked by a breakthrough in
relations between the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox Churches, and that
a meeting of the Pope of Rome with the Patriarch of Moscow does take place. This
meeting must be preceded by concrete steps in the direction of a better mutual
understanding, and by careful elaboration of a common position on major dividing
issues.
"I hope, next, that there will be a general amelioration in the relations
between the Catholic Church and the world Orthodoxy. In 2000 I represented the
Moscow Patriarchate at the session of the Joint Catholic-Orthodox Theological
Commission, which discussed the question of Uniatism. No agreement on this issue
was reached, and the discussion, which was full of frustration, disappointment
and bitterness on both sides, ended without a clear decision as to whether the
work of the commission would ever be resumed. I hope that under the new
pontificate the commission starts again, or that a new commission for bilateral
dialogue is formed in order to discuss Uniatism, primacy and other theological
and ecclesiological questions which still divide our churches."
--- --- ---
Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia
"I hope that Your Holiness' time as Pope will see the development of friendly
relations between our Churches and the fruitful dialogue between the Orthodox
and the Catholics. I believe this to be one of Christendom's most crucial tasks.
Our Churches, with their authority and influence, must join their efforts in
preaching Christian values to the modern mankind. The secular world, losing its
spiritual guidelines, finds itself in unprecedented acute need of our common
testimony. I hope that Your Holiness' service will contribute to the fulfillment
of this task."
--- --- ---
Dr. Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Kingdom
"We welcome the new Pope and wish him every success in the daunting challenges
that lie ahead. As a global leader in a global age, his voice will be important
in framing some of the great challenges of the 21st century."
--- --- ---
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League
"We welcome the new papacy of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. From the Jewish
perspective, the fact that he comes from Europe is important, because he brings
with him an understanding and memory of the painful history of Europe and of the
20th-century experience of European Jewry.
"Having lived through World War II, Cardinal Ratzinger has great sensitivity to
Jewish history and the Holocaust. He has shown this sensitivity countless times,
in meetings with Jewish leadership and in important statements condemning
anti-Semitism and expressing profound sorrow for the Holocaust.
"In our years of working on improving Catholic-Jewish ties, ADL has had
opportunities to work with Cardinal Ratzinger. We look forward to continuing
that relationship."
--- --- ---
Rowan Williams, Anglican archbishop of Canterbury
"His election is also of great significance to Christians everywhere. I look
forward to meeting him and working together to build on the legacy of his
predecessor, as we seek to promote shared understanding between our churches in
the service of the Gospel and the goal of Christian unity.
"He is a theologian of great stature, who has written some profound reflections
on the nature of God and the church. His choice of the name Benedict suggests
that he wants to connect his vision of the Church to the monastic spirit of
service and contemplation.
"He will be much in our prayers in the days and weeks ahead."
-- Civil testimonies --
Gerhard Schröder, German chancellor
"This is a great honor for Germany. I think he will be a worthy successor to
Pope John Paul II. I congratulate him on behalf of the government and all
Germans."
--- --- ---
Horst Köhler, president of Germany
"That a compatriot has become pope fills us in Germany with special pleasure and
also a little pride. I'm convinced that Pope Benedict XVI will continue the late
Pope John Paul II's great engagement for people's dignity and peace in the
world."
--- --- ---
George W. Bush, president of the United States
"He's a man of great wisdom and knowledge. He's a man who serves the Lord. We
remember well his sermon at the Pope's funeral in Rome, how his words touched
our hearts and the hearts of millions. We join with our fellow citizens and
millions around the world who pray for continued strength and wisdom as His
Holiness leads the Catholic Church."
--- --- ---
Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations
"His Holiness brings a wealth of experience to this exalted office. The United
Nations and the Holy See share a strong commitment to peace, social justice,
human dignity, religious freedom and mutual respect among the world's
religions."
--- --- ---
Jacques Chirac, president of France
"I send Pope Benedict XVI my warmest congratulations and sincere good wishes for
the high mission that has just been entrusted on the head of the Catholic
Church."
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Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister of Italy
"I certainly express the feelings of all Italians, and am particularly
delighted, when I present Your Holiness with the warm and respectful homage of
the Italian government."
--- --- ---
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain
"Please receive in the name of the Spanish government and the people of Spain
our warmest congratulations for your election as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic
Church and my best wishes for the papacy which you begin today."
--- --- ---
Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa
"Pope Benedict XVI assumes leadership at a critical time in which the world's
collective wisdom and leadership including that of the religious community is
most important to face up to challenges of deepening poverty and
underdevelopment afflicting many people of the world."
--- --- ---
Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian leader
"We congratulate His Holiness and wish him every success. We hope the strong and
historic relations between Palestine and the Vatican will be as strong as ever
and that the Vatican's support for a just peace in the Holy Land will continue."
--- --- ---
Mary McAleese, president of Ireland
"The world responded in grief and wonder to the passing of John Paul II. The
election of his successor became the concern of very many people throughout the
world. You embody their hopes for greater unity among peoples and a more just
and caring human family. Your guidance and leadership amid the complexities of
modern life will be crucial."
--- --- ---
Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister of the Netherlands
"I hope this pope will continue on the same path as John Paul II, that he seeks
dialogue with others, will fight for peace and democracy and against poverty."
--- --- ---
Jose Socrates, prime minister of Portugal
"I express my sincere happiness to the Catholic Church for the choice of the new
pope." Socrates said he hopes "the Pope continues with the ecumenical spirit" of
his predecessor, considering "the dialogue between important religions for world
peace."
--- --- ---
Tony Blair, prime minister of the United Kingdom
"I offer Your Holiness, on the assumption of your high office, congratulations
and my very best wishes for the success of your pontificate. I look forward to
continuing our cooperation with the Holy See on issues of international
importance such as Africa and development."
--- --- ---
Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan
"I hope the Pope will help to bring harmony between the two worlds [Islam and
Christianity].
"The Pope can bring harmony to the way people think and perhaps create a better
environment to solve disputes between peoples."
--- --- ---
Vladimir Putin, president of Russia
"Russia is committed to continuing its constructive political dialogue and
interaction with the Holy See in the interest of solving global problems,
strengthening the values of goodness, justice and humanism."
--- --- ---
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil
The president of Brazil, the world's country with the biggest number of
Catholics, voiced hope the new pontiff would promote "peace and social justice
at the same time as reviving the spiritual and moral values of the Church."
--- --- ---
Vicente Fox, president of Mexico
"I tell him that we are on his side, that we want to build and keep growing this
magnificent, extraordinary relationship that has been built between our country
and the Vatican."