Friday, March 15 2013

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as the successor to Pope Benedict XVI “is a significant achievement for the Roman Catholic community throughout the Caribbean and South America.”

The Prime Minister’s views are contained in a letter which she dispatched yesterday to Archbishop of Port-of-Spain Joseph Harris. Bergoglio was elected Pope by the conclave of cardinals in Rome on Wednesday and has chosen the name of Francis.

In her letter to the archbishop, Persad-Bissessar said, “The Caribbean and Latin America share close historical and cultural ties and the appointment of Pope Francis is a significant achievement for the Roman Catholic community throughout the Caribbean and South America.”

Telling the archbishop it was a great pleasure for her to extend congratulations to him and the Roman Catholic community on the assumption of the 266th Pontiff of Rome, the Prime Minister said this was “a major milestone in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, following the resignation of Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus.”

“There is no doubt that the spiritual aspect of one’s life is crucial to balanced living and the well-being of the individual, hence, my personal gratification that a Holy Father has been chosen in a timely manner,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She concluded by offering her best wishes to the archbishop for his health and well-being.”

“May God bless you, Pope Francis and all members of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain,” she said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said she was “immensely pleased that the International Roman Catholic community finally has a pontiff to lead his flock through the difficult terrain of modern-day spiritual life.”