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Election of Argentinean as new pope proves Catholic Church strength in Latin America

Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, has been elected the new pope
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, March 14 (Itar-Tass) – Russian Catholics believe that the fact that an Argentinean has been elected the new Bishop of Rome testifies to the strength of the Catholic Church in Latin America.

“The fact the new pope is not from Europe but from the New World proves the strength of the Catholic Church in Latin America. Notably, the biggest Catholic population in now in Latin America rather than in Europe,” secretary general of the Russian Confederation of Catholic Bishops Igor Kovalevsky told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

“It gives us another reason to be proud. Our Church is in fact a universal church. And this is proved by the election of the new pope,” he stressed.

According to Kovalevsky, for the first time in history the Bishop of Rome chooses Francis as the papal name. The new pope is known for his charity activity and help to the poor. He is against abortions, condemns homosexuality and homosexual marriages.

Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, has been elected the new pope.

He appeared on the balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica in papal attire after the phrase “Habemus papam” (“We Have a Pope!") had been announced in Latin by the Cardinal Protodeacon, the senior Cardinal Deacon, upon the election of a new pope.

The announcement is given from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. After the announcement, the new pope is presented to the people and he gives his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.