1. BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk)
UK welcomes election of new Pope Francis, 13 March 2013
Pope Francis I is the first to hail from Latin America
British politicians and religious leaders have welcomed the election of Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, as the new Pope.
David Cameron said it was a "momentous day" for Catholics around the world.
Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said the election was a moment of "great joy".
And the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he looked forward to working with Pope Francis.
Cardinal Bergoglio was elected pontiff on the fifth ballot on Wednesday in the papal conclave in Rome.
The 76-year old is the first pontiff to come from Latin America and his election follows the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI last month.
No 10 said it was "a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world".
'Inspired choice'
The Catholic Church in England and Wales issued a statement welcoming the election of Pope Francis.
"On behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, I wish to express my great joy at the news of the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. [Socius Jesu - ie a member of the Jesuits] as the 265th Successor of St Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church," Archbishop Nichols said.
"As he begins his new Apostolic ministry, as the Bishop of Rome and Shepherd of the universal Church, Pope Francis I may be assured of the prayers and loving support of the Catholic community throughout England and Wales."
Archbishop Nichols expressed his "great joy" at the election.
His predecessor Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor said it was an "inspired choice" and the Church was "very blessed".
Describing Pope Francis as a "humble, spiritual and very intelligent" man with an instinctive feel for the poor, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor said his election "may have been a surprise" but it was an "inspired choice".
"He will bring a new kind of style of to the Catholic Church," he said. "His own simplicity of life will be a great example to the whole world."
The election of a Pope from Latin America, he added, reflected the fact that the Catholic Church "was a global Church in a way that it has never been before" and "this man understands that".
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said he was "surprised that the conclave was so quick. It took hardly any longer than the election of Benedict XVI.
"Given the pre-Conclave situation, and the absence of a single dominant figure, I can only see this quick result as God's work.
"As soon as I heard I went into my chapel and offered a grateful and joyful prayer of thanksgiving."
'Bonds of understanding'
Archbishop Welby, the Anglican primate of All England, said the choice of a new pontiff was of "great significance to Christians everywhere, not least Anglicans".
"We wish Pope Francis every blessing in the enormous responsibilities that he has assumed on behalf of Roman Catholics around the world.
Archbishop Tartaglia said he could only see the speedy result as God's work
"We have long since recognized and often reaffirmed that our churches hold a special place for one another. I look forward to meeting Pope Francis, and to walking and working together to build on the consistent legacy of our predecessors."
He added: "Pope Francis is well known as a compassionate pastor of real stature who has served the poor in Latin America, and whose simplicity and holiness of life is remarkable. He is an evangelist, sharing the love of Christ which he himself knows."
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond offered Pope Francis his "warmest congratulations".
"I wish him well in his time in the Papacy, and his first message as Pope - urging greater bonds of understanding and co-operation among peoples and nations - is one that should resonate around the globe."
2. Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com)
Jewish leaders have hope in election of new Pope, 14 March 2013
by JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
ADL "reassured" by nomination of Pope Francis I, citing Jewish connections; WJC: Bergoglio to strengthen Israel-Vatican ties.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) along with the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Wednesday welcomed Cardinal Jorge María Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, on his election as Pope Francis I.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said he was "reassured" over the record of the new Pope, stating that Bergoglio was crucial in maintaing "positive Catholic-Jewish relations."
In a statement, ADL listed his celebration of Jewish holidays in Argentina, quoting Chanukah as an example of his commitment to his inter-faith relations.
"He lit a candle on the menorah, attended a Buenos Aires synagogue for Slichot, a pre-Rosh Hashana service, the Jewish New Year, as well as a commemoration of Kristallnacht, the wave of violent Nazi attacks against Jews before World War II," Foxman said.
The ADL also cited his "dedication and support in standing up against extremism" in the new Pope's response to the 1994 bombing on an Argentinian Jewish center.
Rabbi David Rosen, the director of interfaith affairs for the American Jewish Committee, told JTA that the new pope is a "warm and sweet and modest man" known in Buenos Aires for doing his own cooking and personally answering his phone. After the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in 1994, he "showed solidarity with the Jewish community," Rosen said.
In 2005, Bergoglio was the first public personality to sign a petition for justice in the AMIA bombing case. He also was one of the signatories on a document called "85 victims, 85 signatures" as part of the bombing's 11th anniversary. In June 2010, he visited the rebuilt AMIA building to talk with Jewish leaders.
"Those who said Benedict was the last pope who would be a pope that lived through the Shoah, or that said there would not be another pope who had a personal connection to the Jewish people, they were wrong," Rosen said.
Meanwhile, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder congratulated Cardinal Jorge María Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, on his election as Pope Francis I on Wednesday.
"Pope Francis I is no stranger to us. In recent years he attended many inter-faith events co-organized by the WJC and our regional affiliate, the Latin American Jewish Congress," he wrote, adding he had met him in Buenos Aires in 2008.
Lauder praised the new pope as "an experienced man, someone who is known for his open-mindedness...a man of dialogue, a man who is able to build bridges with other faiths".
"We look forward to continuing the close relationship that has been fostered between the Catholic Church and the Jews over the past two decades."
After praising the work of Popes John Paul and Benedict for Catholic-Jewish relations, Lauder said: "We are convinced that new pontiff will continue on this path, that he will speak out against all forms of anti-Semitism both within and without the Catholic Church, that he will take action against clerics who deny or belittle the Holocaust, and that he will strengthen the Vatican's relationship with Israel."
He also has worked with the Latin American Jewish Congress and held meetings with Jewish youth who participate in its New Generations program.
“The Latin American Jewish Congress has had a close relationship with Jorge Bergoglio for several years," Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, told JTA. "We know his values and strengths. We have no doubt he will do a great job leading the Catholic Church."
Renzo Gattegna, the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, offered Italian Jewry's congratulations to the new pope with the “most fervent wishes” that his pontificate could bring “peace and brotherhood to all humanity.”In particular, Gattegna voiced the hope that there would be a continuation “with reciprocal satisfaction” of “the intense course of dialogue that the Jews have always hoped for and that has been also realized through the work of the popes who have led the church in the recent past."
JTA contributed to this report.
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