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Local Reaction to Announcement of New Pope

Mar 13th, 2013 - Local News

Here is the official statement released by the Diocese of Grand Rapids following the selection of a new Pope.

March 13, 2013

The Diocese of Grand Rapids’ office of communications relays the following statement from Bishop Walter A. Hurley in response to the election of Pope Francis I, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church:

“Through the College of Cardinals’ prayerful and devoted deliberation within the papal conclave, Pope Francis I has been elected as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church in the world and successor to Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI.

The former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis I will be our first pontiff from a Latin American country. That background will be a significant asset as the demographics of the Church continue to change around the world.

Together with members of the faithful throughout the world I welcome Pope Francis I and offer my prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide him as he assumes the role of chief pastor, spiritual leader and administrator of the universal Catholic Church and leads the Church and its people into the future.”

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