The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has said that he feels “encouraged and deeply hopeful” that with Pope Leo the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church will continue working together.
He said “today was a joyful and hopeful day for all Christian people” and while he did not know the new pope personally he was “moved” by what he heard Pope Leo say.
“His opening words were peace for the whole world,” he said.
Asked what it could mean for the relationship between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, Cottrell added: “We are on a journey of working and walking together.
“I feel encouraged and deeply hopeful that with Pope Leo that journey will continue.
“I loved his humility and humanity.”
He added that Pope Leo came across as “a man of peace”.
Meloni speaks of pope’s ‘spiritual authority’
In a letter to Pope Leo XIV, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of the new pontiff’s “spiritual and moral authority”.
She said: “Italians will look to you as a guide and point of reference, recognizing in the Pope and the Church that spiritual and moral authority that derives from its inexhaustible message of love, charity and hope, which flows from the Word of God.”
She joins a number of political and religious leaders tonight who have congratulated the new pope who has become the first American head of the Catholic Church.
American pope might be in better position to deal with abuse scandal, newspaper editor says
There was a “long-standing rumour” that there would never be an American pope, says Charles Collins, managing editor of Crux, a Catholic publication.
“The fact that he’s an American is very interesting,” he told Sky News.
“The fact that he’s an American means that he will have better access to really wealthy American Catholics to be able to help solve the financial crisis that’s been hitting the Vatican.
“And I’m not going to say that played a role in his election, but it might have played a role in his election.”
He also spoke about the abuse scandal that still rocks the Catholic Church.
“I think an American might be in a better position because, frankly, the United States government and the state governments have been making really strong actions against priestly paedophilia, and he’s going to be very familiar with that…
“And he’s in a position to get ahead of it in a lot of countries which haven’t dealt with it yet.”
Discover more from MEZIESBLOG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.