"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm
wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint
Peter and begins his papacy. As a champion of the poor and the most
vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion
that has inspired the world for more than two thousand years-that in
each other we see the face of God. As the first pope from the Americas,
his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that
is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic
Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this
historic day. Just as I appreciated our work with Pope Benedict XVI, I
look forward to working with His Holiness to advance peace, security and
dignity for our fellow human beings, regardless of their faith. We join
with people around the world in offering our prayers for the Holy
Father as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church in
our modern world."
President Barack Obama
