Catholics and their friends worldwide are celebrating the appointment of a new Pope. On March 14, 2013, Fox News reported, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio named new pope. On Wednesday Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected by his peers as the new pope, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas. He has chosen the name Francis, drawing connections to the humble 13th-century saint who saw his calling as trying to rebuild the church during a time of turmoil. The Central Tibetan Administration has reported, His Holiness the Dalai Lama Congratulates the New Pope.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not lost any time in writing to the new Pope to express his congratulations. The Dalai Lama has written, “May I offer you my greetings and sense of joy on your historic election as the Pope. Although I am not very familiar with many Catholic saints, I do know about St Francis, having visited Assisi and attended inter religious gatherings there. His discipline, the simplicity of his way of life and his love for all creatures are qualities that I find deeply inspiring. I am moved to know that his is the name you have chosen for your papacy.”
While recollecting his cordial meetings with Pope Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI and other Christian brothers and sisters, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is looking forward to meeting the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He has said, "I am very pleased to have met and enjoyed friendly conversations with your immediate predecessors and, for the last forty years or so, have participated in fruitful exchanges with my Christian brothers and sisters. I hope that I may have the honour of calling on you too sometime in the near future.”
