Election of the New Pope: Message from the CCCB President
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City
Most Holy Father:
In union with our clergy and all the faithful in the Roman and Eastern Catholic diocesan churches of this country, together with the members of institutes for consecrated life and societies of apostolic life as well as of the numerous Catholic associations, organizations and movements in our land, the Bishops of Canada greet with joy the news of your election as Bishop of Rome, successor of Peter and head of the College of Bishops.
The ministry that you are beginning holds greater interest than ever to a world which has truly become a “global village” through the instant communications of Internet and the mass media. Aware of the global dimensions of its challenges and problems, contemporary society is searching for a universal pastor and teacher to proclaim the news of salvation, who articulates the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of this age, and who reminds the followers of Christ that all which is genuinely human is echoed in the hearts and minds of the community of faith (Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no. 1).
Making our own the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans (15.30,13), appealing through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Holy Spirit, my brothers and sisters in faith join me in earnest prayer to Our Father on your behalf, that the God of hope fill you with joy and peace.
Fraternally in Our Risen Lord,
+ Brendan M. O’Brien
Archbishop of St. John’s
President
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca